Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

Kylian Mbappe injury, Dani Alves red critical in loss to Lyon - Unai Emery

Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery bemoaned the first-half injury to Kylian Mbappe and the second half red card to Dani Alves as key moments in the Ligue 1 leaders 2-1 loss to Lyon on Sunday.

Layvin Kurzawa cancelled out Nabil Fekir's opener in spectacular fashion in the first half but Memphis Depay crashed home the winner late in the second to cut PSG's lead at the summit of Le Championnat to eight points.

"Kylian's injury and Dani's red card lost us control," said Emery after the match at Groupama Stadium. "The team played well but circumstances made the difference. With the chances and the control that we enjoyed, we deserved better.

"We did not play well during the opening 10 minutes. The equaliser was deserved. In the second half, we started the way that we finished the first. We lost match-winning options but the team kept working hard and trying to score.

"Lyon also possess individual quality, as we saw in the last kick, which won it."

Speaking with Canal+, Marquinhos was blunt in his assessment that Lyon did not deserve to take all three points against 10-man PSG.

"I do not think that Lyon deserved to win," the Brazil international said. "A draw would have been a logical result. They came knocking and got two goals.

"We need to do better, we know that. We are going to work hard but a draw would have been better.

"Playing with 10 men is tough. We tried to play and kept possession but we conceded a last minute goal and it killed the match. In the first half, we were better but we were tired out after the red card. We nearly held out but Lyon got the winner eventually."

Speaking in the mixed zone after the final whistle, Marco Verratti admitted that playing with 10 men was not easy but that such a defeat would not knock PSG's confidence and self-belief.

"It is never easy to play with 10 men but we did well," said the Italy international. "We did not concede too many chances but Lyon have good players. Depay showed that he is a great player with the goal that lost us the match.

"Every game is a test. Lyon are a good team with good players. We created chances but 10 against 11 is not easy. We pushed on anyway but we really suffered. If we doubt ourselves after each loss, it means that we have no real confidence in ourselves. We know that we can do things better.

"This is not the sort of match that will knock all of your confidence, the same way you do not feel invincible after winning 8-0. That is football and we must continue to work and not feel worried."

Next up for PSG are Guingamp at home in the Coupe de France round of 32 before a visit from Montpellier in Ligue 1.

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