Dysfunctional PSG stay perfect
Paris Saint-Germain kept their perfect streak in the French League intact as two own goals saw them notch their sixth win from as many games against Lyon at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night. However although Lyon hit the self-destruct button in that game, the multi-millionaires from Paris had tensions of their own as world record-signing Neymar and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani bumped heads not once, but twice on the night, squabbling over the right to take set-pieces.
After a Lyon own goal had given PSG the lead in the 75th minute, the home side were given the opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot and Cavani stood over the ball. However Neymar walked over insistent on killing off the game, and after a brief argument, walked away and watched the Uruguayan's penalty spectacularly saved by Anthony Lopes.
Tensions had already flared between the duo after Neymar was fouled just outside the box in the 48th minute. Dani Alves ran over and swooped up the ball while his countryman was on the ground and comically kept it away from a flailing Cavani before handing it off to Neymar.
The Brazilian unleashed a powerful shot at the keeper's near-post, which was punched out for a corner as an befuddled Cavani looked on, still unsure of what had transpired moments earlier.
Alves, who is touted as one of the main factors behind Neymar's move away from the Nou Camp, offered a half-hearted explanation after the match, saying: "I was going to take it. I got the ball to take the free-kick, because I've scored some stunning goals. I was confident. But that's not important. What's important is that the team is more important than any individual. At that point I wanted to take responsibility, but then Ney took the ball and ended up shooting. I took the ball with the aim of shooting, but unfortunately I couldn't".
It was reported in the French media that Cavani had been so incensed by the incidents that he did not even stop by the mixed media zone after the game, instead heading straight to the parking lot and leaving of his own accord.
From the moment he arrived it was clear that Neymar would be the main man at Paris for years to come and he has backed up his credentials with four goals and as many assists in the five league games he has played thus far. However, Cavani himself is no slouch and has netted seven times while assisting once.
And those two, alongside French teenager Kylian Mbappe, are key to the hopes of European glory that PSG yearn for. Perhaps with that in mind and knowing that any discord in the changing room would leave his squad split into two cliques, manager Unai Emery sounded off an ultimatum for his feuding forwards, telling them that either they would resolve the issue or he would step in and do it.
"I have told them to sort it out between themselves," Emery told the press after the match. "The penalties are to be struck by a few players, one is Cavani and the other is Neymar.
"It takes a gentleman's agreement on the pitch to take the penalties. Afterwards, we will arrange internally for the penalties, because I think both are able to score them, and I want the two to alternate in this exercise. If there is no agreement, I will decide. I do not want it to be a problem for us."
The incidents may have been blown out of proportion, but regardless of that it is clear that someone will have to step in and address the issues before it begins ego gets in the way of things and derails the wonderful start to the season that PSG have enjoyed.