PSG regained their title of champion of France last year. But beyond this facade, the immobility of the Parisian game was largely disappointing last year. Consequently, Mauricio Pochettino gave way to Christophe Galtier. Likewise, Luis Campos replaced sporting director Leonardo. Overview of the Parisian forces, before the first match of the season in Clermont, Saturday August 6 at 9 p.m.
The objective: the title, but with the way
For Paris Saint-Germain, any other result than a title of champion of France is experienced as an affront. Its workforce and its means are so above the others that it would take a real combination of circumstances to imagine the champion fallen from his crown. After this observation, the PSG must above all apply to raise its level of play compared to a gloomy past season.
The 3-5-2 of Christophe Galtier, newly appointed, goes in this direction. The technician, however described as cautious in Nice or Lille, is responsible for ensuring the show. The first glimpse, during the Champions Trophy against Nantes (4-0), is rather promising. “I liked the way the team expressed itself, with always this desire to attack, to have control of the game”, greeted “Galette” at the end of the match. It remains to display the same guarantees over time, when adversity gets tougher.
The player to watch: Leo Messi, the machine is launched?
Without being ridiculous, the Pulga’s past season disappointed more than one, given the expectations surrounding its arrival. Caution remains in order, but the lights seem to be green so that the Argentinian finally shows a happy face in Ligue 1. Galtier’s tactical plan offers him the keys to the game. In a role of number 10, he will compensate for his loss of speed by distilling polished passes.
Messi’s pre-season outlined his potential in this animation. His relationship with Neymar, placed a notch higher with Mbappé, is intact from Barcelona. “He is a fully invested player”reassured Galtier in an interview for The Team. In addition to Paris, the 35-year-old Argentinian will run behind another mission: to win a first World Cup with Albiceleste.
The rookie: Vitinha to stabilize the midfield
We thought the eternal evils of PSG in the middle erased by the contribution of Georginio Wijnaldum. Alas, the Batavian went through the season like a ghost, without resolving an equation that has been running since – at least – the departure of Thiago Motta. This summer, Paris bet on Vitinha. This 22-year-old Portuguese is coming off a full season with FC Porto.
His “box-to-box” profile is, on paper, perfectly complementary to Marco Verratti to constitute the two-headed environment of PSG. On the club’s website, he described himself as “attack-oriented” and “rather technical” during his presentation. In a game sector where Herrera, Rafinha and Wijnaldum are openly undesirable, the Lusitanian will have a good card to play.
The 11 type:
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