Edinson Cavani, who was playing for PSG, recalled that he had a tough time following losing second leg match against Barcelona in the Champions League 2016/17 season. This defeat shattered all hopes of PSG to advance into the next round of the Champions League.
Anxiety issues for then PSG forward Cavani following a loss against Barcelona
In the first leg match, Les Rouge-et-Bleu (The Red-and-Blues) won 4-0. This comfortable win enlivened the hopes of Paris Saint-Germain to move into the Round of 16. Cavani and Co. believed that they would proceed to the next round without breaking any sweat.
However, Barcelona came back with all guns blazing. Messi and Co. won the match by a huge margin. At Camp Nou, PSG conceded 6 goals. On aggregate, Barcelona won 6-5 and advanced to the next round.
One of the best games ever played, this match is now part of folklore. Football fans across the world tell stories and details of when Barça startled Les Parisiens (The Parisians).
Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayan forward, who played in both matches, has admitted that losing out to Barcelona in this fashion affected him. It affected his mental state of being. He had to visit a therapist after that game. These visits continued for some time. The Uruguayan said:
“I went to therapy after Barça’s comeback against PSG.”
“Barça’s comeback at PSG affected me so much. It’s only football, but it affects you as a person. After that, I had anxiety symptoms, cold sweats, and I would get dizzy before sleeping and I was scared of falling asleep. I would ask myself: Am I sick in the head?”
Post that horrific loss too, Cavani continued playing for PSG, for a few more years. In 2020, he got a transfer offer from Manchester United which he took. He played for Red Devils for two years. Later he was sold to Valencia.
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