Guéhi after City-PSG: 'a lot of positives' despite the defeat
Manchester City's Marc Guéhi acknowledges a poor first half but praises his team's reaction after the break in the Champions League loss to PSG at the Etihad.
Key takeaways
- Manchester City suffered their first defeat in eight matches, beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on the second matchday of the Champions League group phase at the Etihad.
- In the first half, PSG goals came from Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha, capitalising on defensive lapses and pace, with Marc Guéhi citing a lack of intensity.
- The second half was described as the opposite, with City applying pressure, 21 chances created in the half and a total of 42 attempts, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
- After two matchdays, Manchester City sit 17th in the group standings and will host Ipswich Town in the Premier League before facing AEK in the next European fixture.
- Guéhi emphasised the positive reaction and thanked the supporters, noting the defeat as a lesson and highlighting PSG's early campaign solidity.
Match sheet
Manchester City 2 – 4 Paris Saint-Germain
· Ligue des champions · League Phase · Etihad Stadium
- 13' Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 15' Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 32' Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 53' Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — goal
- 61' Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) — yellow card
- 62' Maghnes Akliouche (Paris Saint-Germain) — goal
- 69' Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain) — yellow card
- 75' Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — goal
Standings Ligue des champions : 1er, 9 pts (3 j.)
Manchester City conceded their first defeat in eight matches as Paris Saint-Germain, the title holders, beat them on the second matchday of the Champions League group phase at the Etihad Stadium. In City Studios, Marc Guéhi gave his analysis of a two-faced evening.
First-half PSG dominance
According to Goal.com, the Parisian club took control of the first 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium. Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vitinha all found the back of the net before the break, exploiting the lapses in the defensive line of Enzo Maresca’s side, troubled by PSG’s quick transitions.
Guéhi did not absolve himself of responsibility. The defender believes his team, including himself, should have defended better on the two opening goals. To explain the Parisian grip, he points to a lack of intensity: he says PSG was more aggressive and won many individual duels, which opened the path to the goal for them.
Second-half turnaround
The scenario changed after the dressing rooms. The former Crystal Palace player describes a second half that was “the complete opposite” of the first, with more aggression and more duels won on the English side, which allowed City to score in turn. The sources consulted do not specify the final score or the number of goals scored by the Citizens.
The match was very open: Goal.com notes 42 attempts in total over the entire game. Manchester City dominated possession after the pause and created 21 chances in this second half alone, without managing to overturn the outcome.
Guéhi mainly remembers this reaction. He believes the second period says a lot about the character of the group and the club, and he wanted to thank the supporters for their backing throughout the evening.
Drawing lessons
The defender refuses to over-dramatize. He recalls that the competition is only just beginning and that the team knew that if they kept fighting, they could still achieve something. He hopes this defeat serves as a lesson to raise the level in upcoming matches.
After two matchdays, Manchester City sit 17th in the group standings, which involve 36 teams. The Mancunians will have a quick chance to bounce back at home: they host Ipswich Town in the Premier League this Saturday, then AEK on Tuesday for the third European fixture.
For PSG, this victory secured in England against a top opponent confirms the solidity shown by the capital club early in the campaign, particularly their effectiveness in the first half.
Your questions, our answers
What happened to Manchester City on matchday two against PSG at the Etihad?
Manchester City conceded their first defeat in eight matches as Paris Saint-Germain beat them on the second matchday of the Champions League group phase at the Etihad Stadium.
What did Guéhi say about PSG’s performance in the first half?
Guéhi said PSG were more aggressive and won many individual duels, and that his team should have defended better on the two opening goals due to a lack of intensity.
How did Guéhi describe the second half?
He described the second half as the complete opposite of the first, with more aggression and more duels won on the City side, which allowed City to score.