Angel Di Maria is the very definition of a "reliable" player, a term so often used by Thomas Tuchel in his public or private remarks.
The statistics speak for themselves: since the arrival of the German, “ADM” has played 92 games.
The winger is the player most in demand, ahead of Marquinhos and Mbappé with 88 appearances under the orders of the former Dortmund coach.
And at a time when PSG suffers a cascade of injuries, Di Maria dribbles the infirmary.
In five seasons at PSG, he has only missed 18 games due to injury.
Three times less than a Neymar in just three years.
This season, Di Maria had to deal with a four-game suspension, which has now ended, imposed by the LFP for his spitting on the Marseillais Alvaro Gonzalez in mid-September.
His exit door is in Europe with the return of the Champions League.
Holder against Manchester United (1-2) and Basaksehir Istanbul (2-0), the Argentinian will be titular again this Wednesday on the ground of RB Leipzig on his favorite right side.
Very discreet during the first two European posters, Di Maria will this time be responsible for creating the game for PSG in the absence of Neymar or Marco Verratti.
He should find the Argentine selection
And why not take inspiration from his last performance against Leipzig?
This summer, the Parisians outclassed the Germans in the semi-finals of the Champions League (3-0) thanks to a great Di Maria, author of a goal and two assists.
All when Neymar stumbled on the goalkeeper or the post and Mbappé lacked rhythm after his ankle injury.
It is also a constant with the former player of Benfica or Real Madrid: when the stars are absent or in poor shape, he manages to raise his level and show himself.
This was the case in the round of 16 first leg against Manchester United (0-2) in 2018-2019 when Cavani and Neymar were missing.
Motivated as never before at the idea of “revenge” on the Reds Devils, his former teammates, Di Maria offered two assists on one of the most significant European victories in the history of PSG.
In the fall of 2019, he did it again, this time scoring a double against Real Madrid (3-0) when Neymar and Mbappé were seated in the stands.
Finally, in Bruges (0-5), still in 2019, Di Maria delivered four assists in the same match, still without the Brazilian on the lawn.
At 32, the native of Rosario is still chasing a second Champions League.
Passed very close this summer, he must help PSG avoid a hitch in Leipzig which would put him in a dangerous accounting situation.
Undoubtedly called in the coming days to find the Argentinian selection, from which he had been excluded for months, Di Maria can afford a dream week.
