The One Thomas Tuchel Blunder that Rendered PSG Winless Even Before Kicking the Ball

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Thomas Tuchel has been blamed for Paris Saint-Germain’s exit from the Champions League to Manchester United, because he shouldn’t have played Gianluigi Buffon.

That is what ESPN pundit and former Liverpool star Steve Nicol believes, claiming PSG outdid their incredible collapse against Barcelona in 2016 with their loss to United.

PSG suffered an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to United at the Parc des Princes last night.

The Parisians had led 2-0 from the first leg after an impressive display at Old Trafford last month.

Buffon

After just a minute, Thilo Kehrer made a horrific pass across goal that fell straight to Romelu Lukaku, who rounded Buffon and tapped into an empty net.

Fans were divided as to whether to blame Kehrer, Buffon or Thiago Silva, who was beaten to the ball by Lukaku, but there was no debate as to where the blame lay for the second.

Marcus Rashford picked up the ball in space 35 yards out, before hitting a low shot at Buffon.

The ball seemed destined to creep inside the keeper’s near post, but Buffon palmed it back into the middle of the six-yard area, and again Lukaku tapped home.

PSG got back into the game thanks to Juan Bernat after United’s first, but they failed to get going against a United team which lacked 10 first-team players.

And in the 90th minute, Presel Kimpembe gave away a penalty by handling Diogo Dalot’s shot.

Rashford hammered the spot kick past Buffon to see United into the quarter finals.

Buffon

And Nicol slammed Tuchel for dropping Alphonso Areola for Buffon in such a crucial game.

“We thought the Barcelona result would never be topped,” he said on ESPN.

“But this has to top it, simply because it’s Manchester United’s reserve team.

“The blame lies 50 per-cent with the players on the field, and 50 per-cent with Tuchel.

“The first two goals are shocking. The first goal Kehrer is nervous and makes a horrible backpass.

“The second goal, why are you playing your second string goalkeeper in the round of 16 in the Champions League? It’s being too clever.

“Thomas Tuchel tonight has cost PSG with that one decision. One decision.

“You play your top goalkeeper and that doesn’t happen.”


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