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The saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way” holds true. However, for Paris Saint-Germain, their path to redemption was paved with controversy in the form of a controversial late penalty, a weak midfield, and poor long-range shots reminiscent of the Soccer AM Crossbar Challenge. As the final whistle blew, the Parc des Princes erupted in a mix of relief and disappointment, as they begrudgingly accepted a victory that felt more like a theft than an earned win.
Newcastle faced a challenging situation as they approached the 97th minute of what could have been their most impressive victory away in Europe. Despite being plagued by injuries and having only a few experienced players on the bench, they held strong against the relentless efforts of the wealthiest club and the top forward in the world. They withstood the pressure of a home crowd, multiple saved and blocked opportunities, and the kind of intensity that often causes teams like Montpellier and Lyon to falter on a regular basis.
After the fog lifts and the anger fades, a unique sense of understanding may come to light. In the end, this match deserved more than just being associated with Kylian Mbappé and a questionable decision by the referee. It was a night of sheer suffering for the underdog team, as they stood their ground against one of Europe’s top teams. It was a night where a 17-year-old from County Durham made a name for himself on the grandest stage of the game.
Lewis Miley is desperate for the football. He desires it like only a child can. When the ball is not in his possession, he becomes restless and tense. He constantly fidgets and moves around, taking four steps in one direction, then three in another, shuffling, hopping, and sprinting into open spaces. Observers of his performance with the under-21 team last season noticed that he often seemed out of rhythm with his teammates, simply because he was far superior to them. He made runs that they couldn’t even imagine and anticipated potential threats that never actually occurred.
This is the potential threat that presented itself. The main source of danger was Mbappé, who was positioned on the left side for Paris. With Miley positioned on the right side of the midfield trio, his role was not only to be a threat, but also to prevent any potential danger. There were three key defensive actions: one from Fabián Ruiz, who blocked a shot on his own penalty spot, another from Lee Kang-in who chose to close down the angle instead of challenging for a loose ball, and one in the second half from Bradley Barcola, which earned him a congratulatory slap on the shoulder from Kieran Trippier.
Miley and Trippier, the youngest and oldest players on Newcastle’s team, seemed to have a strong connection. Trippier’s performance was outstanding, demonstrated by his clean tackle on Mbappé that is typically seen in sports commercials. Even when Mbappé managed to get past him, Miley was there, much like a Bond girl who unexpectedly saves the day by hitting the villain with her handbag. Mbappé eventually shifted to the center of the field.
Amidst the defensive efforts, we were able to witness Miley’s impressive attacking abilities. The goal scored by Newcastle was a remarkable team effort, with 41 seconds and 10 passes executed flawlessly. Paris was unable to gain control of the ball and all of Newcastle’s players, except for Fabian Schär, contributed to the play. Each player showcased their strengths, such as Bruno Guimarães evading pressure, Miguel Almirón moving quickly and skillfully like a child playing an Xbox game, and Tino Livramento confidently making his way into the penalty area despite being a full-back.
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Miley played a crucial role in the entire play by drifting out wide to create an overload on Lucas Hernandez, and then making a run to support Almirón’s advancement of 25 yards on the field. This player displays a natural intelligence both in offence and defence, anticipating the movement of the ball three seconds ahead, much like Jude Bellingham did at a similar age. His position on the field is still uncertain, whether he is a No 6, 8, or 10. However, it is highly likely that he will be representing England in three years.
The irony is that Miley may not have been included in the game if Newcastle had not been dealing with a severe injury situation. The fact that Paris fielded a front line made up entirely of Parisian players serves as a reminder that even in a project driven by state funding, there is still space for genuine happiness, for a hometown hero, for something authentic and genuine. Ultimately, it seems that power will always find a way, but there is also hope that talent will prevail in the midst of football’s dystopian struggles.
Source: theguardian.com
