The tree that hides the forest ? If Paris-Saint-Germain have scored eleven goals in their last two games against Maccabi Haifa (7-2) and Troyes (4-3), the five goals conceded at the Parc des Princes annoyed Christophe Galtier. Best attack in Ligue 1 (36 goals), fourth most prolific in the Champions League (14 goals), his team only appears in tenth place among the tightest defenses on the European scene (six goals taken in five games), tied with five other teams.
“It’s really too much”, breathed the Parisian coach after the victory against ESTAC, aware of the defensive adjustments to be made before the clash against Juventus Turin, Wednesday, November 2, in the Champions League where PSG will play for first place in their group.
Against Troyes, PSG conceded the second fastest goal in their history at home (2 minutes and 14 seconds) and were behind twice for the first time in almost ten years and a defeat against Rennes on 17 November 2012 (1-2). A bound air hole “to a collective unconscious relaxation” according to Eric Roy, consultant for France Télévisions. “As long as Paris does not present itself as a team that makes the effort together, anyone can put them in difficulty”.
“We are also in a period where the players are less well individually”, adds the former midfielder of Nice, Lyon and Marseille, while the physical glitches of Presnel Kimpembe or Danilo Pereira forced Christophe Galtier to swap his system with three defenders for another with two centrals. A paid tactical reorganization during the Classic against Olympique de Marseille (1-0) or Ajaccio (0-3), but which has shown flaws since.
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With his 4-3-3 system, Christophe Galtier must make a strong choice in the axis of defense. The injury of the French international, on the eve of the match, postponed the answer to this question until later: “Know who of Ramos or Kimpembe will accompany Marquinhos”, underlines Eric Roy, for whom the selection of the left side, between a convalescent Nuno Mendes and less conquering Juan Bernat, is just as important. Crucial management in the Champions League, a competition in which PSG concedes twice as many goals per game (1.2) than in Ligue 1 (0.62).
Established on Saturday against Troyes for the first time since his thigh injury, Presnel Kimpembe was at fault on the first two goals conceded by PSG, before being replaced on the hour mark by his captain Marquinhos. Hit in the Achilles tendon on the eve of the match against the Turinese, he was forced to forfeit this trip. This suits Sergio Ramos, whose “lucky charm” status reinforces his status as a major piece. The Spanish defender has never lost in his first thirty games in the Paris jersey, erasing the previous record held by one of the legends of the Parc des Princes, the Brazilian Rai.
30 – Sergio Ramos has not lost any of his first 30 matches with Paris in all competitions, a record for a player in PSG colors (surpassing that set by Rai – 29). Boss. #PSGESTAC pic.twitter.com/P9fXFfv0dX
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 29, 2022
At Juventus Stadium on Wednesday, the Parisians must also regain sovereignty in the air, after conceding three goals from set pieces in two games. “The PSG squad is not athletic in terms of sizedeplores Eric Roy. Despite his large stature [1m96], Gianluigi Donnarumma has this culture of Italian goalkeepers who do not take many risks in outings. In the construction of the team, the contribution of Fabian Ruiz [1m89] is interesting to help Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos in the aerial game”.
Another point of improvement, the management of enemy attacks and rapid transitions. “The Trojans will tell you that there are few games in which they have been able to get the ball so easily” emphasizes Roy, for whom “the defensive feverishness of PSG is not attributable only to the four or five behind”. For him, the state of mind must be transformed in the middle of the week: “The Parisians should approach this match with a completely different state of mind than that of Troyes. There will be the awareness that finishing second in their Champions League group could be a big deal.” Although brilliant since the start of the season, the Messi-Mbappé-Neymar attacking trio tends to cut the team in two. “We can imagine that, against Juventus, the three front attackers will be a little more involved when the team loses the ball, especially since Neymar will be suspended” concludes the consultant. The Brazilian is undoubtedly the one who, since the start of the season, has made the most effort to withdraw into the MNM.