Matuidi Reflects on PSG’s Draw with Monaco and Marseille’s Strong Start
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi has urged his teammates to show more resilience and mental strength after the French champions conceded a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw against AS Monaco on Sunday.
The result, which came on the ninth day of the Ligue 1 campaign, dealt another blow to PSG’s early-season ambitions, leaving them further adrift of high-flying Marseille at the top of the table.
“We need to have more character in those moments, more personality to stay calm and composed and see the result through,” said a visibly disappointed Matuidi after the match. “I think it’s more mental than anything else.”
PSG had looked set to take all three points at the Parc des Princes, only for Monaco to snatch a dramatic equaliser in the dying seconds, adding to the growing frustration within Laurent Blanc’s squad. Zoumana Camara had earlier echoed similar concerns about the team’s ability to close out games.
Attention has also turned to Marseille, who have surged into the Ligue 1 lead with a seven-point cushion over the defending champions. Marcelo Bielsa’s side has impressed with its intensity and cohesion, prompting many in the French football community to take their title challenge seriously.
Matuidi admitted that Marseille’s transformation from last season is hard to ignore.
“They’re full of confidence right now,” he said. “They’re almost a different team compared to last year.”
However, the France international insisted PSG would not become preoccupied with their southern rivals, despite acknowledging the growing gap at the top of the table.
“It’s up to us to do our best to catch up. We have a month before we face them directly, so we’ll try to win our games and hope they drop some points,” Matuidi added. “But before we hope for them to slip up, we need to make sure we’re winning consistently ourselves. We’re not obsessed with them — but of course we’re keeping an eye on their form.”
With the season still in its early stages, PSG remain very much in the title race, but the pressure is mounting. The club, which has dominated French football in recent years, is yet to hit full stride this term. The coming weeks could prove pivotal as they look to close the gap and regain momentum.
Marseille, meanwhile, continue to impress under Bielsa’s guidance, turning last season’s underachievement into a determined bid for silverware.
For PSG, the challenge now is as much mental as it is tactical — and Matuidi knows that rediscovering their winning edge will be key to defending their crown.
