Endrick Shines in Lens' Win Over PSG
Endrick’s goal lit the fuse. His celebration nearly stole the whole show.
The 19-year-old forward was decisive in Lens’ 2-1 win, striking the opener and then laying on the second to stun PSG and blow the Ligue 1 title race wide open. Lens now sit just a single point behind Luis Enrique’s side, even if they have played a game more, and the pressure in Paris is beginning to feel very real.
On the pitch, though, the flashpoint came after the ball hit the net, not before.
Endrick marked his goal with a long, provocative dance in front of the home supporters, a celebration that stretched close to fifteen seconds. The Paris crowd bristled. So did Achraf Hakimi. The Morocco international marched over to confront the teenager, words exchanged in the middle of a simmering Parc des Princes.
“Why did I tell Endrick to calm down? These things happen in a match. We're not going to focus on the opposing players. I wanted my team to stay focused and for him to stop doing things aimed at our fans,” he said, making it clear his priority was PSG’s composure, not a personal feud.
Hakimi didn’t question the youngster’s talent. Quite the opposite. He praised Endrick’s ability but drew a line at the manner of the celebration, especially in a high-stakes Ligue 1 clash with PSG trailing.
“He should just play football, especially since he's a talented player. But when he does things that aren't about football, it can annoy me – especially since we were losing,” Hakimi explained, underlining how the showboating grated in the context of the scoreboard.
For PSG, the fallout from the defeat will be short and sharp. There is barely time to dwell on a damaging weekend as a rescheduled trip to Nantes looms on Wednesday. The schedule is unforgiving, the title race suddenly tighter, and Luis Enrique may have no choice but to shuffle his pack.
Hakimi has been almost ever-present in the starting XI, but even he could be rotated as the coaching staff weigh tired legs against the need for a response. Resting key players now is a gamble; dropping more points would be far costlier.
Rebuilding a four-point cushion at the top has become non-negotiable. After a night that rattled the Parc des Princes, PSG need more than a reaction. They need control, discipline, and points – or this title race might turn from uncomfortable to chaotic in a hurry.
