PSG: Herrera, the intermittent of the show

How far the PSG summer tour in China is. In August, in the country where the Premier League and Manchester United are kings, Ander Herrera was one of the star players of the Parisian club, awaited with as much impatience as Neymar. Six months later, the popularity of the midfielder is much lower on French soil, where we have seen too little playing to judge his sporting qualities. Twelve times out of the thirty games played by PSG. For eight tenures and 678 minutes of play only.

The main reason for these repeated absences is the fragile physique of the thirty-something, recruited free last summer after five years spent at Manchester United. In August, a calf injury kept him away from the field for almost a month. Then, at the end of October, a new, larger muscle lesion in the left thigh forced him to a long period of rest. Herrera did not reappear until December 18 at Le Mans (4-1), in the League Cup. A relapse badly experienced by the Basque, who saw Paredes and even the young Kouassi seize their chance in the rotation of Tuchel.

Tuchel "is very careful with him"

Her body is better today. Herrera could even start this Sunday the 16th final of the Coupe de France in Lorient, as he had started the previous round against Linas-Montlhéry (6-0). “The coach is very careful with him, as he was with Thilo Kehrer for example, analyzes a close to the locker room. The injuries did not work in favor of a quick return. There are precautions taken to have him on the field in the Champions League ”.

A competition for which Herrera was recruited. From the height of his English experience, the field has always been presented as a potential replacement for Gueye, Verratti or Marquinhos in the midfield. Would he be able to secure this position if the 8th final against Dortmund took place tomorrow? Doubts exist. Until this equation is solved, Herrera fulfills another role, just as respectable: that of model teammate and leader of the locker room.

"I especially like being part of the team"

“He brings his experience and his calm, we observe at the Camp des Loges. It has a strong capacity to transmit positive waves. He speaks from time to time to young people. As against Linas-Montlhéry, when he calms Dagba who seemed a little distraught at the start of the game. The new year seems to have boosted the morale of the Spanish international, determined to change the dynamics of a first part of the season which he never imagined to take shape in this way.

In Tuchel's 4-4-2, the former Athletic Bilbao player discovered a new role against Linas-Montlhéry. As entrusted to the microphone of Eurosport at the end of the success against amateurs, Herrera had never played in such an offensive system, with four attackers. "I like to play, adapt, learn a new role, and different styles of play. I especially like being part of the team," he summarized. Ambitions to be confirmed at the heart of this calendar occupied by matches every three days. In order to at least apply for a place in the group for Dortmund.