It's a chorus that resonates in Paris at each transfer window.
PSG are looking for a midfielder.
After the arrival of Alessandro Florenzi at the right-back position, it is one of Leonardo's priorities even if Thomas Tuchel does not hide his desire to see a central defender also arrive after the departure of Thiago Silva.
The last final of the Champions League certainly highlighted the lack of offensive efficiency of the Neymar-Mbappé-Di Maria trio.
But it is also in the middle of the field that Bayern has demonstrated its superiority.
Salvage duo Goretzka-Thiago Alcantara sparkled, overshadowing the disappointing performances of Marquinhos, Paredes and Herrera.
In the most important game in the club's history, the three men showed their limits.
And Verratti's technical support in place of Paredes in the 65th minute was not enough to turn the situation around.
The explanation comes from a question of technical profile and complementarity.
And also perhaps of size whereas Leonardo himself admitted last January that the Parisian midfield "may need a few centimeters".
It is clear that Verratti (1.65 m), Idrissa Gueye (1.74 m), Paredes (1.80 m), Herrera (1.82 m) and Marquinhos (1.83 m) do not peak at the summits European standards and that a profile like Tanguy Kouassi (1.87 m) free party at Bayern Munich has not been replaced.
Thiago Motta has never been replaced
But it is above all the homogeneity of the members of the community that challenges.
They all have a certain technical ease but generally lack impact, project little forward and hardly ever score.
Apart from Marco Verratti, they also find it difficult to play under pressure.
"There is not a medium who can play football and prevent certain players, for example like Neymar, from coming down to get the ball, details Mickaël Madar, the former Parisian striker and consultant on Canal +.
At one point, the defenders don't even go through the middle.
They are looking to find the attackers right away.
It prevents having a consistent game and a team.
"
For the former international tricolor, the problem lies above all in the choice of players: “Verratti touches the ball fifty times and cannot give speed.
Gueye is dead every game, we don't know where he is, and Paredes has a good assist but that's it.
These last two are not enough to play for PSG ”.
A sentence which once again highlights the fact that Thiago Motta has never been replaced and that Paris continues to pay the lost bet of favoring Adrien Rabiot over Blaise Matuidi in 2017.
"It's an extraordinary mix with Verratti"
Aware of these shortcomings, Thomas Tuchel therefore always intends to use Marquinhos in front of the defense.
The German technician is still rave about the performance of the Brazilian in this position.
“He helps everyone.
He is able to do counter-pressing, help the central defense, score decisive goals, summarizes the Parisian coach.
It's an extraordinary mix with Verratti for a middle ground for two ”.
PSG Express
The essential newsletter for Parisian supporters
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
The fact remains that Paris also needs its captain in defense and that it will be difficult for them to last a whole season without a reinforcement.
"If we want to meet all our objectives, it is necessary", assures Thomas Tuchel.
The departure of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern to Liverpool for 30 million euros tends to prove that there are good deals to be made in this transfer window impacted by the Covid.
The key is now in Leonardo's camp.
VIDEO. Lens-PSG: "It had been 9 years since PSG had lost at the opening of the championship"