Buffon screams a warning to teammates

Gianluigi Buffon screamed from the dugout watching his Paris St-Germain teammates crumble in the second half of Saturday’s game.

PSG weren’t playing Marseille, Monaco or Lyon away from home but Nimes — the side with Ligue 1’s smallest budget returning to the top flight after 25 years.

PSG won 4-2, but could have lost as Nimes clawed back from 2-0 down to equalise, hit the crossbar and draw a save from PSG’s goalkeeper.

During that flurry of pressure, PSG’s composure completely disappeared and they looked anything but a team able to win the Champions League. That’s what doubtless flustered Buffon, one of the best goalkeepers of all time.

The 40-year-old Italian has played 176 times for Italy, winning the World Cup and playing in a European Championship final. In a glittering career with Juventus he has played in three Champions League finals and won the past seven Serie A titles.

This is a player who has seen it all, and simply does not accept complacency.

Although nearly retired, he remains one of the most dedicated and hard-working professionals in the game — an inspiration to many.

He was rested for Saturday’s game, and clearly the lackadaisical attitude he saw in the second half irritated him as he barked from the touchline as if he were PSG’s coach. At one point he stood with both index fingers pointed at his temple, as he yelled at his teammates to think more clearly about how they were playing.

A glance at the league table shows PSG have a maximum 12 points, but two of those games could have been lost because the defence is vulnerable and the midfield lacks leadership now veteran Thiago Motta has retired.

As in previous seasons, PSG’s lack of teamwork and tendency to switch off puts them under pressure in matches they should comfortably win — given the quality of the squad and the relative inequality of the French league.