Less than four months from the end of his contract at PSG, Thomas Meunier is still in uncertainty about his future. The Belgian wants to stay in the capital where four years after his arrival, he is not always unanimous but remains number 1 in the position of right side. A logical choice for the former defender of PSG (during the 1990-91 season), Olympique de Marseille and the French team (37 selections), Jocelyn Angloma, 54, for whom Paris should pursue the adventure with Meunier.
Do you think Thomas Meunier is a world-class right back defender?
JOCELYN ANGLOMA. Yes of course. I do not understand the criticisms it can raise. I like it a lot by his propensity to defend very cleanly while going forward. It is very comprehensive. I do not see what more can be expected from him. It performs very well with the Belgian selection. He is a very high level player.
Does it have defensive gaps?
It will always be missing but I already find it very full. He's strong in duels, good in the air. He may be less technical than a Dani Alves but he is comfortable with the ball. He is physical without being brutal. He is perhaps more liberated and confident in selection than at PSG. Then it might be more effective in one-on-one situations.
How do you judge his game without a ball?
PSG most often have possession so it must put forward its intelligence of play. It is not often mistaken when deciding whether to go up and participate in the game or when it must remain on the cover. He is sometimes beaten at the loss of the ball because he is asked to be very offensive. And he is not always very helped by his attackers who do not work much for recovery. You have to accept that he may be lacking on this side, but it is not exclusively his fault. He certainly has an increased need for vigilance to know when he must close the spaces or frame his direct opponent.
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Should Paris keep it?
Yes. Unless you find THE side but at this position, there are not masses in the world. There are the English Kieran Trippier (Atlético de Madrid) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) or Nelson Semedo (FC Barcelona) but can PSG buy them? Colin Dagba is efficient and promising but still lacks experience. So given what Meunier has been doing for several seasons, Paris has every interest in extending it.