Luis Enrique Criticized for his Poor Tactics at Newcastle

The Newcastle win over PSG means that they are now top of Group F with four points from two games. The atmosphere was electric inside the stadium, with Miguel Almiron scoring in the opening 20 minutes of the match, Dan Burn doubled the lead before the break. Sean Longstaff scored the third goal after half-time in front of the Gallogate End. Hernandez’s goal in the 56th minute has no answer to the relentless Geodies with Fabian Schar striking the excellent finishing display in the 91st minute.

This defeat was a result of poor tactics, PSG were seen left their back open for the ambitious Newcastle and paid the price, conceiving three goals within 50 minutes. Even though the Ligue 1 champion is still second in Group F with hopes of making it to the round of 16 still, their supporters, spectators, commentators, and sports analysts were not happy with the result against the host in Tyneside.

The PSG boss took the blame for the heavy defeat against Newcastle in the Champions League. Reacting after the match when questioned about the defeat Enrique said: “Yes, absolutely. There’s no doubt about that. I’m the first person that should take responsibility for that. I am responsible. The outcome of the game was fair even if the score line was a little bit too much in their favour. Perhaps not really a [completely] fair reflection. I think my players struggled a little bit with their [Newcastle’s] pressing game. They did everything that I asked them to do except for the final third, where we didn’t quite do what we wanted to do.

The Newcastle boss Howe, told CBS Sports that their win was because the players pressed Luis Enrique’s side a couple of times. “We are really pleased. It was a brilliant effort from the players, it was a different game. It was a cat and mouse between the two, we were trying to press them and they were trying to play through us. We were successful a couple of times which led to big goals for us, so I am delighted with the players’ commitment. I think we came here with a lot more confident mood. We wanted to be ourselves and then take the result whatever it is”.  The Geordies kicked off their champion league dream start at St James’ Park for the first time since the 2003-04 season in a brilliant way.

Jermaine Jenas blasted PSG’s defense on TNT Sports saying: ‘With the outgoings, as world class as they were and going younger in midfield, looking a bit fresher, I thought we might see a different look to this PSG side tonight.’ ‘But it’s another year but the same old PSG by the looks of it. ‘A penny for Luis Enrique’s thoughts. Defensively that was absolutely shocking. The midfielders allowing players to run off them. Centre backs not making any type of decision to come out and defend’.‘  Newcastle’s high-pressing game plan squeezed the Parisian’s efforts throughout the game. Though PSG was filled with a fresh side with some big stars like Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Sergio Ramos haven left the club last summer, while Ligue 1 champions brought some new talents like Lucas Hernandez, Randal Kolo Muani, and Ousmane Dembele.

The former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand also slammed Luis Enrique’s side’s poor defending after the game. He told TNT Sports: “Really really bad starts to each half. Slack, lazy, lack of concentration and focus – all of the above. That’s the opposite when you look at his Newcastle team – truly focused, concentrating, dynamic and aggressive.”