PSG's Thrashing of Caen Exacerbates Champions League Exit Disappointment

Just four days after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain reacted by annihilating SM Caen 6-0 in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice, while Blaise Matuidi, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria and Maxwell also added goals at the Parc des Princes.

Like they did last season against Lille OSC in Le Championnat (6-1), PSG pulverised a domestic opponent immediately after exiting continental competition by scoring six times against them.

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The French champions raised their game when there was little at stake. The Ligue 1 title has already been won for weeks, and Caen were missing numerous influential players anyway.

But that is not even entirely true. Les Parisiens did not even have to raise their game significantly in order to be head and shoulders above Patrice Garande’s side. The hosts’ victory was effortless at times and rarely needed to get out of second gear.

Despite the massive final score, which wasn't PSG’s best of the season, most thoughts were still on the 1-0 defeat to City at the Etihad Stadium days earlier.

Speaking with the press shortly after the final whistle, manager Laurent Blanc admitted that the comprehensive win will not get rid of the regret that his team feel after their ousting in Manchester.

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We did what we planned to do. The players and I have the same opinion that it is disappointing to be knocked out of the Champions League, but we must digest it. The best way to prepare for the week ahead with two decisive games was to play football and win. We regained the pleasure of playing to win and working hard. I do not know what will happen on Tuesday and Saturday against Lorient and Lille, but I think to have a good chance to do good things in these two games we had to win against Caen.

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Brazil international Marquinhos echoed his boss’ sentiments and lamented the squad’s failure to reach the semi-finals when speaking with the capital club’s official website.

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It will be very tough to forget the elimination in the Champions League, because that was our dream. But the best way to bounce back is to work hard and be professional. We know when we wear this shirt, we have an obligation to win and we still have trophies to win.

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Although he was not present on the pitch in Manchester on Tuesday, Matuidi also gave his post-match thoughts to the French giants’ official website and acknowledged that he and his teammates were still feeling bad about their Champions League failure.

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It was very important to get back to winning ways. While we were still feeling bad after Tuesday’s elimination, we had to try and enjoy ourselves and we did. We still have plenty to play for this season and now we are fully concentrated on these two trophies that we can still win.

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A notable difference between the City clash and the Caen cakewalk was that PSG lined up in their familiar 4-3-3 formation in Paris, while they were arranged in an untested 3-4-1-2 in Manchester.

Although using the shape after going out to Manuel Pellegrini’s side would have been a bit pointless, it could have shown a willingness from Blanc to be more tactically flexible. Le President certainly has the players at his disposal to master the 3-4-1-2 in the future.

There were players missing on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium, and there were players missing at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. But Blanc still did some things against Caen that he should have been prepared to do against City.

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Di Maria—who was not particularly impressive against Les Malherbistes despite a well-taken goal—was played in the midfield three to add some creativity in the absence of Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore, while Benjamin Stambouli occupied the deep-lying role in front of the back four.

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With the players he had at his disposal in Manchester on Tuesday, Blanc could have named the same side he did against Caen with some notable upgrades.

However, even if he had named the exact same starting XI for both of this week’s matches, it probably wouldn't have troubled City much more than the one the French tactician ultimately opted to use.

While PSG supporters were no doubt happy to see their team bounce back just days before a Coupe de France semi-final away at FC Lorient and a Coupe de la Ligue final against Lille OSC at the Stade de France, the Caen thumping has only heightened the Champions League disappointment at the Parc des Princes.

Anything less than winning both cups to match last season’s domestic clean sweep could lead to significant changes over the summer with the purpose of avoiding a similar outcome this time next term.