Cesc Fàbregas scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot, vindicating his manager’s brave substitutions
By Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French
Football News
In the wake of Monaco’s dramatic 3-2 win over PSG on Friday evening, a plethora of narratives have unfolded. After two goals by Kylian Mbappé in the first half, PSG seemed to be cruising to an eighth straight win in the league, having scored 24 goals and conceded just once in that run. Monaco, though, had other ideas. Two goals from Kevin Volland and a late penalty, converted by substitute Cesc Fàbregas, sealed the result.
The sending off of Abdou Diallo, who appears to have regressed to a disconcerting level, did not help PSG. However, before making caveats about fitness, Covid-19, international breaks or any of the other issues facing Thomas Tuchel this season, credit should go where credit is due: to Monaco and their manager Niko Kovac for his decisive substitutions. PSG had absentees, but the hosts were also missing players who, while lacking the star power of their opponents, are perhaps even more important to their team’s ability to function at its best.