Rio Ferdinand slams PSG as ‘lazy and lightweight’ after the Ligue 1 giants are blown away by Newcastle in the Champions League

Rio Ferdinand has criticised PSG’s tactical approach after their reigning French champions suffered a bruising 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Champions League.

Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff fired the in-form Magpies 3-0 ahead at St James’ Park.

Lucas Hernandez pulled one back for PSG in the 56th minute, before Fabian Schar sealed a superb victory for Newcastle with a superb shot from distance in stoppage time.

The result marked a perfect home return to the Champions League for Newcastle after a 20-year absence, as well as the latest disappointment suffered by regulars PSG in the competition.

Former Man United star Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, expressed surprise at PSG’s tactical approach to the match and accused the team of being lazy and lacking concentration.

Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand criticised PSG’s approach to the match as ‘lazy’

Ferdinand believed PSG’s tactics left teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery exposed

‘In the first minute, they were in a good position, but they go back to the goalkeeper and they gave Newcastle chance to get the crowd up,’ Ferdinand said.

‘At one point they give the ball away three times in 20 seconds, they had really bad starts to each half and end up getting punished.

‘Slack, lazy, lack of concentration, focus – all of the above. It’s the opposite when you look at the Newcastle team, who were truly focused, concentrating, dynamic, aggressive.

‘Tactically you have to get it right on the big stage. If you don’t you get punished especially in an atmosphere, a cauldron like this.

‘The way PSG approached this game, 4-2-4, light in midfield, lightweight, with a young 17-year-old [Warren Zaire-Emery] playing four players up the pitch at all points. They got punished today.’

The result saw Newcastle move to the top of Group F, with Eddie Howe’s side earning four points from their opening two Champions League matches.

Defeat leaves PSG second in the ‘Group of Death’ on three points, followed by AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund.