Before returning to the Rossoneri on Tuesday, the capital club got back on track in a month thanks to a tactical adjustment and the importance of two of its individuals.
As if it had needed to hit rock bottom to better rise to the surface, Paris Saint-Germain is approaching its trip to Milan in the Champions League, Tuesday November 7, with great confidence. Luis Enrique’s players remain on five victories in a row, each with three goals scored, since the scathing defeat at Newcastle on October 4 (1-4) with, in the middle of this series, a correction inflicted on the Rossoneri at the Parc des Princes (3-0).
On paper, PSG has no reason to fear this opponent that it has already defeated, especially since it travels to Lombardy without a shadow on the board. All the major players will be present at San Siro and the team has had time to build certainty in the space of a month.
Luis Enrique made a tactical adjustment
“I thought it was the best option and I will continue to think so.” True to his reputation as a stubborn coach, Luis Enrique refused to question himself after the defeat at Newcastle. At St James’ Park his team did not exist, despite a very offensive organization with four attackers (Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos) who had never before been all aligned together at kick-off .
Since then, the Iberian coach has kept the same game plan, but has made a tweak which has brought more stability and fluidity to the Parisian game, reintegrating into a professional environment. In addition to the Manuel Ugarte-Warren Zaire-Emery pairing, Vitinha and Kang-In Lee both occupied the left side of midfield. Whether they started or came on, both gave full satisfaction but the South Korean took the advantage thanks to his performance against Montpellier (3-0) on Friday.
Kylian Mbappé found himself
In Newcastle, Kylian Mbappé showed up with a shortage in front of goal which had been running for 221 minutes. Not necessarily confident, he went through the meeting like a ghost like almost all his teammates. He remained silent again against Rennes the following weekend and left to join the French team at the time when he posted 401 minutes without scoring. But the truce reinvigorated him.
With the Blues, armband on his arm, he scored three goals and gave an assist in two games, before continuing his momentum once back at the club. Scorer against Strasbourg, Milan and Brest, Kylian Mbappé once again put on his cape as leader of Paris Saint-Germain. If he did not score against Montpellier on Friday, the sluggishness seems well behind him.
Warren Zaire-Emery more than a hope
We have been talking about him as the future of Paris Saint-Germain for over a year. Powered by Luis Enrique this season, the 17-year-old midfielder has shown that he is also the present. The Parisian “titi” is undoubtedly the most impressive player in the capital club’s squad since October. He was already the only survivor of the Newcastle disaster, delivering the decisive pass on the only Parisian goal.
“Warren is a diamond. Beyond his physical and technical qualities, what is most important to me is his ability to create a bond with his teammates and know where to position himself in relation to them.”
Luis Enrique, PSG coachat a press conference, Monday
After a truce with the French youth team, of which he was captain while being the youngest player on Thierry Henry’s list, Warren Zaire-Emery came back even stronger. Exceptional against AC Milan in the Champions League (two assists), he scored against Brest and Montpellier. Beyond the offensive statistics, his ability to advance the Parisian block by carrying the ball and repeating races appears essential. To the point that some are already betting on his selection by Didier Deschamps on Thursday, to evolve with the national selection.