PSG Players Must Improve – Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel wants an improved showing from his players when they take on Napoli away in their next Champions League Group C match after Wednesday’s dramatic, but “massively frustrating” 2-2 draw.

The Italian side looked to have won it through Dries Mertens’ second-half strike after Lorenzo Insigne’s opener in the first but Angel Di Maria’s superb leveller in stoppaged and Mario Rui’s own goal saved a point for the Ligue 1 giants.

“I do not know why we cannot play the same way for 90 minutes,” said Tuchel after the match. “We switched to three central defenders and created more chances, pressed better and showed greater intensity, so we won the second half. We did not win overall, though, so we must improve.

“Scoring in the last-minute means that you can look at this as a point won. It was very important not to lose at Parc des Princes here. Our opening 15 minutes were good and then we lost our structure.

“At half-time, I told the players that we needed to play with greater simplicity, faster and with more discipline — we had to improve. It was logical that they scored first but their second goal was massively frustrating. However, we fought back a second time and that shows great mentality.”

The German boss also expressed his belief that PSG can go to Naples and win to improve their current position within the group.

“We have three group matches left and we want to win our head-to-head with Napoli first of all,” he said. “We are 90 minutes into the 180 and it is 2-2 — we can win it in two weeks’ time.”

Late-goal hero Di Maria praised Tuchel’s half-time changes and was pleased to avoid defeat at the death.

“We are pleased to have finished positively,” said the Argentina international. “We could have lost but we also could have won. You have to fight to the very last second to reach your objectives.

“The coach is there to make decisions and change the formation when needed and that is what he did at half-time. We need to build on the second half and keep improving.”