PSG won their weekly championship match this Saturday. Much more serene than against Bordeaux, last Sunday (4-3), the Parisians besieged the defense of Dijon before shattering it (4-0).
Without a great Runarsson and without the awkwardness of Edinson Cavani, who did not necessarily score points in his duel at a distance with Mauro Icardi (author of the 3 rd goal), the score could even have looked like the 8-0 of January 2018. If it is difficult to compare this match against the 17th in Ligue 1 with that proposed in Paris, next March 11th in the knockout stages of the Champions League return against Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel did not hesitate to make his first tests. Without finding all the answers yet.
Marquinhos, the ride continues. Midfielder or defender? Both and in the same match. As against Bordeaux, the Brazilian started at this number 6 position. But against the Girondins, Thiago Silva's early injury had pushed him back into defense. This Saturday, for the first time since December 21 (4-1 victory against Amiens), Marquinhos played more than an hour of play at this position where Tuchel adores him, alongside Idrissa Gueye. "If we want to have this opportunity against Dortmund, he has to play now as a midfielder," said the German coach. Playing defender is natural and easy for him to adapt. But if he still plays in defense, it will be difficult for him to change at the last moment. That is why we chose this option ”.
VIDEO. PSG-Dijon: Paris and Mbappé broke the wall
Kouassi, a delicate choice. For the first time since February 1 and a scathing 5-0 against Montpellier, PSG did not concede a goal. Good news to put into perspective with regard to the meager Dijon offensive ambitions. The defensive quartet chosen by Tuchel was as follows, from right to left: Kehrer, Kouassi, Kimpembe, Bernat. Three of them, unless injured, have their tickets for the reception in Dortmund. What about young Kouassi? "Tanguy is right-handed while Abdou (Diallo) is left-handed," recalls Tuchel. Two lefties (with Kimpembe), it's weird ”. The possibility Diallo ruled out by this reality, the presence of a hinge 100% from the Parisian training center takes on momentum if Marquinhos is indeed aligned in the middle. It remains risky. Otherwise, Paredes would be there to replace the Brazilian, accompany Gueye in midfield and relegate Kouassi to the bench.
PSG Express
The essential newsletter for Parisian supportersI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
A group mobilized towards a single goal? "This is something that will have to be shown on the ground," summed up with Canal + Gueye, in form against Dijon. Saturday, nobody at PSG denied the holding of the muscular meeting between Leonardo, Tuchel and the players, discussed in detail by the daily L'Equipe, the day after the anniversary deemed too festive of Cavani, Icardi and Di Maria. Has it been enough to ease tensions? "Time will do its job," said a close relative of the group. For Thomas Tuchel, it is time to forget the week following the defeat against Dortmund. "The group wants to move forward," he says. There have been too many serious critics after a single defeat. We cannot lose confidence in this team. They want to play this return match. Preparation continues this week. ” In Lyon, precisely, in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. For a test, a real one.
