Sancho did the dirty work of smothering Mbappe
Mats Hummels and Jadon Sancho celebrate reaching the Champions League final
Not many would have imagined that Jadon Sancho would become Dortmund’s key defender in suppressing Kylian Mbappe.
In the first leg against Dortmund, Sancho was the key spark in the attack and could have scored a hat-trick of assists. On his return trip to Paris, he played a different role.
The England winger doubled up with right-back Lucas Ryerson to thwart PSG’s dynamic number seven. The central third won six possessions. Mbappe, meanwhile, had just five shots on goal.
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The Athletic’s David Ornstein and The Mirror’s John Cross discuss Dortmund’s 2-0 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain
Sancho’s forward pass success rate also reached a game-high 63.64%. When Dortmund need to step up and relieve pressure on their defence, Sancho is their calm and effective figure.
So Sancho can flex his attacking flair and do the dirty work. He would be a golden addition to any team in Europe. Are you watching, Eric?
blitzkrieg himself
Mbappe anonymous
Kylian Mbappe’s final season at PSG will be disappointed with Champions League exit
This is not the Kylian Mbappe we are used to who often steps up in big situations.
This is a player with 48 Champions League goals. He is the player with the most goals in the World Cup finals. He is right up there with the best players the world has ever known.
None of this showed against Dortmund. The German side educated him. For 180 minutes of football, Mbappe is virtually unknown. He was simply tagged out of the game.
Credit must be given to Dortmund’s stunning defensive pairing – Mats Hummels and Nico Schloterback – but questions must also be raised about PSG’s number seven, who is set to leave at the end of the season Parc des Princes, there was not even a whiff of his club desperate for Champions League trophies.
On Tuesday, Mbappe lost possession 18 times, was withdrawn, indecisive and wasted resources. He touched the ball 12 times in the opposition penalty area and had three shots on target, none of which troubled Gregor Kerber.
“Football is so unfair,” head coach Luis Enrique said after the game. Often this is true. But not here. PSG’s stars struggled, while the entire Dortmund squad showed how rewarding a cohesive game plan – executed with unwavering commitment – can be.
Laura Hunter
Dortmund defenders form yellow wall
Dortmund will not move to Paris
They say you earn your luck. Well, the Dortmund defender certainly did that at Paris Saint-Germain.
Luis Enrique pointed to PSG hitting the woodwork six times over two legs to explain why they deserved to reach the Wembley final at the expense of Borussia Dortmund. But Dortmund’s defense doesn’t deserve to lose either.
Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ian Maatsen (the latter played The four defenders (Burnley and Coventry) made a total of 36 clearances at the Parc des Princes, 12 of which were with their heads, and won 24 duels. If they could, they would all sleep well tonight during the festivities.
Dortmund will now take the Yellow Wall to Wembley, but there will also be a second, smaller wall in front of them in front of the goal. Whoever faces them in the Champions League final will not want to face this quartet.
blitzkrieg himself
