Newcastle United supporters continue to reminisce about their memorable 4-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain, and rightfully so. What’s interesting is that pundits are also not ready to let go of this topic.
As Newcastle prepares for their upcoming Champions League encounter against Borussia Dortmund, many are still discussing the impressive result at St James’ Park, where Eddie Howe’s team delivered a valuable lesson to PSG.
One noteworthy figure who has showered Newcastle with praise is the former Ballon d’Or winner and AC Milan legend, Jean-Pierre Papin. In the early 90s, Papin was at the peak of his career, winning the prestigious award in 1991. I personally wished Newcastle would sign him when I was a child, though I had little understanding of how the transfer process worked.
Papin truly showcased his talents while playing for Marseille before transferring to AC Milan, a team that recently crossed paths with Newcastle in the Champions League. Unfortunately, AC Milan only managed to secure a point against Newcastle and Dortmund, making their prospects of advancing from the group stage look dim.
Nevertheless, Papin suggests that Milan could benefit from observing Newcastle’s approach, as reported in The Chronicle. He states, “Luis Enrique is an excellent coach, and Milan’s challenge will be containing Kylian Mbappé, who is still the best out there. It requires a flawless team performance, similar to what Newcastle achieved against PSG. Kylian is a game-changer; he can turn the tide in an instant.”
It’s always gratifying to hear someone describe your team’s performance as “flawless,” and when that someone is as highly respected in the football world as Jean-Pierre Papin, it carries even more weight.
Newcastle effectively neutralized the threat posed by Mbappé, and in my opinion, Jamaal Lascelles still has him under control. In reality, it was a superb defensive demonstration, with Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier sharing responsibility for silencing the French striker.
The match against Dortmund will present an entirely different challenge for Newcastle, but based on their performance against PSG, they’ll approach the next game with unwavering confidence.
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