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French newspaper annihilates Neymar and Mbappe in post-match ratings
Published 11:06 24 Aug 2020 BST
Updated 11:13 24 Aug 2020 BST
Homesport
They are renowned for their brutal ratings
French newspaper L'Equipe were typically harsh in their post-match Champions League final ratings, giving both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe humiliating 3/10 scores. PSG suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, in a match where neither Neymar nor Mbappe played to their true potential. [caption id="attachment_247380" align="alignnone" width="640"]
L'Equipe were highly critical of their 'magical duo'.[/caption]
Mbappe squirmed numerous chances, including a first-half effort from point-blank range where the ball was struck straight at Manuel Neuer.
Neymar also fluffed his lines on a few occasions, including a one-on-one with the outstanding Neuer which went out for a corner. In general, the Brazilian's decision-making in the final third left a lot to be desired.
PSG fans would have expected more from such big game players. It is this which must have prompted L'Equipe to issue such scathing ratings.
The L'Equipe match report was particularly critical of Brazil talisman Neymar:
"We had seen him happy, arriving at the stadium with his glasses, his smile and XXL confidence.
"History will remember that the biggest transfer in football history (222 million euros) lost his final, which ended in tears. A one-on-one lost to Neuer, and an average performance, despite a last chance. He was marked by Goretzka, Süle or Alaba, and hardly ever made a difference. He was played as a false nine, but never succeeded."
[caption id="attachment_247387" align="alignnone" width="2048"]
Mbappe blasted a first-half effort right at Manuel Neuer. (Photo: Getty)[/caption]
Mbappe was twice denied by the outstretched legs of Neuer, which L'Equipe said came "at the beginning of an evening where the magical duo never managed to raise their level."
Speaking specifically about Mbappe, L'Equipe said:
"The French 2018 World Champion with the Blues, wanted to "make history", but he will have to learn.
"To the left, then to the right of Tuchel's 4-3-3, he was too imprecise and notably missed his shot in front of Neuer in the 45th minute."
This isn't the first time L'Equipe have handed out a set of embarrassing post-match ratings. It isn't even the first time involving PSG.
https://twitter.com/GodSaveTheFoot/status/775998435262595072?s=20Back in 2016, Arsenal came away from the Parc des Princes with an extremely fortunate 1-1 draw. Not one of the Gunners' outfield players received above 5/10.
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