PSG Coach Galtier Sees Hope of Turning around Bayern Deficit

PSG coach Galtier sees hope of turning around Bayern deficit. AFP
PSG coach Galtier sees hope of turning around Bayern deficit. AFP
TT
20

PSG Coach Galtier Sees Hope of Turning around Bayern Deficit

PSG coach Galtier sees hope of turning around Bayern deficit. AFP
PSG coach Galtier sees hope of turning around Bayern deficit. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said he was hopeful his side could still qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League despite losing 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Tuesday.

"It might seem a banal thing to say but tonight nobody is through and nobody is out. I am daring to hope that we will be fresher in three weeks and if we can play the way we played in the last 25 to 30 minutes then we can beat Bayern," said Galtier.

Kingsley Coman scored the only goal of the game in Paris against his former club, finishing from an Alphonso Davies cross eight minutes into the second half, AFP said.

PSG were poor for long spells but improved towards the end after Kylian Mbappe came off the bench on his return from a thigh injury and injected pace and direction into the Parisian attack.

Mbappe twice had goals disallowed for offside, with his second attempt eight minutes from the end from a Nuno Mendes cutback only being ruled out because of a highly marginal call.

"The return leg will be in three weeks so we can hopefully get more players back for then and be fresher," added Galtier, who had to contend with Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi coming off hurt at half-time.

"We can't say how long he will be out. Achraf had an intense World Cup where he played on through the pain and it was already difficult at Monaco (a 3-1 defeat on Saturday) where he couldn't start," he said.

"We took the risk this time but he developed a muscle problem early on.

"Unfortunately we conceded just as we were preparing for Kylian to come on. We had two or three chances and sadly it was not enough but the last half an hour gives us hope."

The second leg will be played at the Allianz Arena on March 8.



Chelsea Wins Women's League Cup Final for First Trophy in Quadruple Bid

It was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a 12-day span (File photo/AFP)
It was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a 12-day span (File photo/AFP)
TT
20

Chelsea Wins Women's League Cup Final for First Trophy in Quadruple Bid

It was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a 12-day span (File photo/AFP)
It was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a 12-day span (File photo/AFP)

Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running.

A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final on Saturday earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season.

Chelsea — still unbeaten in all competitions — leads the Women’s Super League by eight points with six games remaining in its title defense, is in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, and has reached the FA Cup semifinals, The AP reported.

Yui Hasegawa’s unfortunate own-goal in the 77th minute clinched the win for Chelsea, which took the lead after eight minutes through Mayra Ramirez. It was also the Colombia striker who delivered the right-wing cross that Hasegawa sliced into her own net.

Aoba Fujino equalized for City with a brilliant strike from the edge of the area in the 64th.

It was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a 12-day span. They also meet in the two-legged Champions League quarterfinals, with a Women’s Super League match in between.