From the repositioning of Danilo Pereira to the long injury of Juan Bernat, the defense of Paris SG is the image of the tumultuous start to the season of a team which goes to Nantes, Saturday (9 p.m.) in League 1, without his playing master Neymar, injured.
Ten matches, eight different combinations: since the start of the school year, coach Thomas Tuchel has tried hard to find the formula that could transform his rearguard into an extremely solid block. With only three goals conceded in the Championship, the best record tied with Little, before the 9th day, the statistics suggest some success in its tactical experiments.
But the impression given in Champions League does not corroborate this point: PSG concedes many chances, with already 31 shots suffered in two matches (including ten on target), almost twice as many as at the same time last season (17, including 1 on target), according to UEFA data. In the first half, watching the match from the stands (as a substitute, editor’s note), I was surprised at the spaces that there were on the pitch
Basaksehir striker Demba Ba said Thursday at RMC radio microphone.
As a result, PSG is no longer too sure of its strengths, weakened by his failed entry into C1 against Manchester United (2-1 defeat). Victory (2-0) in Turkey Wednesday was hardly reassured, while a first turning point is looming for qualification for the Germans of RB Leipzig, next Wednesday.
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Neymar package
The injury of Neymar, affected in the adductors and absent until the international break, adds to the current uncertainty. In this context, where several executives are still missing – Angel di Maria (suspended in L1), Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi (injured) – Parisian salvation goes through defense. However, it needs time, after Tuchel’s decision to switch roles between midfielder Danilo Pereira and central defender Marquinhos, which has reshuffled the cards.
While the departure of Thiago Silva this summer at Chelsea had freed him up, Mark
only played four matches as a defender, before returning to the middle where the German coach prefers. I want to be the best defender in the world
, proclaimed the Brazilian captain to AFP a year ago. But today, it’s rookie Danilo who holds the rope in the typical team alongside Presnel Kimpembe.
However, the Portuguese played very little in central defense at FC Porto. Danilo is more of a defender than a midfielder, because we have Marqui on the pitch
, added Tuchel, annoyed to answer these questions, after Istanbul.
All things are possible. It is also possible that Danilo plays striker and Rafinha central defender. Everything is possible
, he added with a touch of provocation, which recalls his pass at the beginning of October with the sporting director Leonardo on the subject of the transfer window.
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“Total confidence” in Danilo
I don’t think that’s a problem for him. I will help him as best I can, he is already a very intelligent boy, very strong, mentally ready. He was still the captain of FC Porto so we have total confidence
in Danilo, Kimpembe explained.
In this game of musical chairs, Presko
has become the anchor of defense. It is really extraordinary since the return of confinement
, congratulated Tuchel. This should still keep Abdou Diallo, left-handed like Kimpembe, on the bench, even if the former Dortmund can play alongside him, as against Manchester United.
Expected in Nantes for nearly a month and a half of absence in L1, Thilo Kehrer, used as well as a right-back as a central defender, can shake up the hierarchy that is starting to emerge, around Danilo and Alessandro Florenzi. It’s a lot of competition. We need his physical capacity, his speed, his strength in duels. He was a key player last year
, Tuchel said on Friday.
The other return, that of Kurzawa after a suspension of six matches, relieves the left side, stricken by the long-term injury of the holder Juan Bernat, where the young Mitchel Bakker ensured the interim. Maybe the end of the work …
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