Ten months in office have elapsed but his mark is still not identifiable. On the eve of a crucial trip to Leipzig, Wednesday 3 November (9 p.m.), in the group stage of the Champions League, Mauricio Pochettino still had to answer questions about his game plan at a press conference. His Paris Saint-Germain may be comfortably installed at the head of Ligue 1 and his group of C1, it is not reassuring because of its snatch victories, the frequent absences of its executives and its lack of tactical consistency. on the meadow.
“Each game has its complexity. Like any coach I obviously only want to improve things. We are always in this phase of progression. There always needs to be a period of adaptation so that everyone gets to know each other after the arrival of the new ones. players this summer “, tempered the Argentine coach. On October 19, the Argentine coach recognized for the first time “difficulties” for his team, despite the stunning victory for his first face-to-face with Leipzig (3-2).
Mistreated by the pressing of the Germans, she had miraculously escaped thanks to the flashes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. For the return match, Paris will not be able to count on the first, injured, and will not have the excuse of surprise in the face of a freshly faced opponent. On the other hand, the club of the capital will be able to use what had saved him during this famous match, which again allowed him to win last Friday against Lille in Ligue 1 (2-1).
During these two meetings, Pochettino had agreed to a change of tactical device to find the remedy for the ills of his team. Led, the Parisians had twice managed to reverse a compromised situation for two very important successes. By evolving in a system with three central defenders and two lane players in pistons, instead of a four-way defense, the 2020 C1 finalist has given himself air and binder to better carry the danger. The temptation to make it a lasting solution is all the greater when it comes time to return to German training on Wednesday. But it is not without risk.
The 3-5-2 seen at the end of the game against Losc certainly allowed the wings to be released with the entries of Nuno Mendes and Colin Dagba to bring the danger along the chalk. By shifting the danger, Mauro Icardi, also entered in the second period, was able to take advantage of the spaces in the heart of the northern area. Neymar, he appeared transfigured in a game finally opened, which allowed him to express his creativity in the right tempo. The Brazilian undoubtedly delivered his best minutes of the exercise.
“4-3-3 or 3-5-2? It’s good to have different options even during the game”
Ander Herreraat a press conference, after PSG – Leipzig (3-2)
Against Leipzig in the first leg, this system had made it possible to loosen the grip of the German pressing a little by offering more possibilities of counter-attack. “4-3-3 or 3-5-2? It’s good to have different options even during the game”, explained the Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera at a press conference. It is fashionable to never decide at this PSG. Like Pochettino’s media interventions, everything is calculated to avoid turmoil, even if it means installing an unpleasant fog.
“I think the tactical maps are just reference points, frozen drawings. When you see the team composition, it’s static. That’s why I don’t like to talk about it too much. ‘animation we have already played several times with a three-way line. But there are a lot of rotations in the game and the football is complex. We can very well decide to line up a defense with three central defenders at the start of the match, but it often depends on the team and the opposing defense. Above all, we want a lot of flexibility “, developed the Parisian coach at length on Tuesday, taking care not to choose.
Something to resonate with the style of his team, fleeing. The Argentine technician may have led 50 official games since his arrival on January 1, he still has not managed to give an identifiable style to his team. Every three days, the same question is asked. The answers do not fall despite the reformulations. The crowd of reporters try to use other words to finally get an answer, but Pochettino doesn’t budge a line.
On the eve of this trip to Leipzig, he simply did not understand the meaning of the question because it was so disguised. “I didn’t understand, I need you man”, he blurted out, looking at his assistant and translator Miguel d’Agostino. The journalist then asked the question again. “We have the project. The ideas, too. We know how to put it all in place. Building a team requires several stages and I don’t want to go into the details of each of the phases we have to go through. We are working. and everything is clear, the philosophy and the identity. The results are good despite the circumstances and we will improve “, retorted the Argentine with his characteristic lukewarmness, serene because he knows the results prove him right. But until when ?