How humiliating cup exit changes PSG season?

In what was one of (if not) the biggest upsets in French football this season, French cup holders and current European Champions PSG crashed out in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France at home to local rivals Paris FC, after a late goal by Jonathan Ikoné proved the difference between the two teams.

PSG dominated the match, but proved to be short of cutting edge, and failed to break down a resolute Paris FC backline. A star-studded attack made up of Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Gonçalo Ramos proved insufficient, as PSG failed to score in a match for the fourth time in all competitions this season. In truth, the home side were dominant throughout, and missed a plethora of gilt-edged opportunities, with Barcola being perhaps the biggest culprit, dragging a one on one wide early in the second half.

More pressure on PSG after Coupe de France exit?

So how does this shock defeat change the outlook on PSG’s season? Although the French Cup admittedly probably wasn’t particularly high on the list of PSG’s priorities, it has to be said that this early exit does put more pressure on the Parisians, who are still a point behind Lens in the Ligue 1 table. It would be a big shock were the champions not to end up overcoming the side from Calais and winning the league, but an early elimination in a domestic cup does mean that Enrique will be under a bit of extra pressure to succeed.

This early exit also places more focus on the Champions League. In years gone by under Qatari ownership, a league title was seldom sufficient alone to satisfy the owners of Paris Saint-Germain, who craved continental success. An elimination from the French cup means that were PSG to fail to defend their European crown, their trophy haul come the end of the season would suddenly be looking a bit slim.

There’s no need to be alarmist yet however. Luis Enrique has enormous credit in the bank at Paris based on his achievements over the last twelve months, and even this season has brought success in the form of a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Intercontinental Cup and of course last week’s Trophée des Champions. Detractors would argue that these are not the most glamourous of trophies, but still three additions to PSG’s silverware, two of which PSG had never won before.

PSG now must focus on Friday’s game, at home to Lille, in which they will hope to keep the pressure on their title rivals Lens, who themselves host Auxerre (before travelling to Marseille a week later, creating a strange situation for Paris Saint-Germain fans in which they will be half rooting for their historic Classique rivals) the next day. PSG also have the last two Champions League group games to contend with this month: away at Sporting Lisbon and at home to Newcastle, and although qualification is all but assured, they will look to win these games in order to secure what should be a more favourable draw in the knockout phase of the tournament.