Paris Saint-Germain sit only six points clear of the chasing pack, and suffered a surprise home loss to Lyon on Sunday.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Danilo felt his side “did not respect” their opposition during Sunday’s surprising 1-0 home loss to Lyon.
The hosts controlled the ball with 62.2 per cent of the total possession, but found themselves on the wrong end of the expected goals 1.61 to 1.13 after conceding quality chances in both halves.
PSG were lucky to go into half-time level after Alexandre Lacazette’s 39th-minute penalty struck the woodwork, but their luck ran out 11 minutes after the break when Bradley Barcola finished off a cutback from 18-year-old right-back Sael Kumbedi.
The loss leaves the Ligue 1 leaders with only a six-point buffer over second-placed Lens and Marseille.
Danilo urged his squad to get some desperation back in their play.
“We did not respect [Lyon] and we did not give it our all,” he told Canal+ Foot. “But when you don’t give everything you have to give, even at home, it’s difficult to win every game.
“We have to get out of there, because our opponents [Lens and OM] are only six points away. We have to wake up, because the title is not assured at all.
“We know that Ligue 1 is a very difficult championship and we have to get that title. We have to change a lot of things, and not just the state of mind.”
Head coach Christophe Galtier was disappointed to see his team “resign” at the first sign of adversity.
“We got off to a good start in the first 20 minutes,” he said. “We were then taken on the transitions – I see that we are quickly resigned.
“We had the ability to overturn matches and this evening, we quickly resigned ourselves. We lacked character, personality. There is disappointment, but there can also be cold anger. We lacked the investment.
“It’s the eighth defeat in 2023. It’s far too many. Match after match, we burn our jokers. Am I resigned? No – I will fight until the end.
“There may be fatigue after the break, but we have to react in the next game. We must have the reaction of a champion.
“I dare to hope that our players are not jaded on the titles – we must have a reaction of pride.”