There was, at least, two good news Tuesday evening at the end of the very painful performance of PSG against Leipzig (1-0).
In addition to the very precious success which revives Paris in the race for qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the entry into play of Marco Verratti looked like a light in the Parisian night.
In just over ten minutes, the Italian recalled how precious his ability to collect balls, play in small spaces and find his attackers in the intervals was for Paris.
And his bad habit of collecting warnings, collecting his 95th in 322 games with PSG ...
His performance especially underlines those of the three midfielders lined up at kickoff.
Hopefully Danilo Pereira, Leandro Paredes and Ander Herrera took some notes as they watched their 28-year-old teammate do pretty much everything they haven't been seen doing throughout the game.
Putting order at the heart of the Parisian game
We do not discover the day after such a match how essential the Italian is to PSG.
But in such a delicate period for his club, the international with 38 selections will have to go even further beyond his role as creator to restore order to the heart of the Parisian game where no one has demonstrated for six weeks that he was able to be the cornerstone.
His right thigh quadriceps injury contracted on October 14 in the Squadra Azzura jersey prevented him from playing eight games with PSG.
Including three defeats against Manchester United (1-2), Leipzig (1-2) and Monaco (2-3).
A meeting in the principality that Marco Verratti had to give up after having had a small muscle alert the day before.
No risk wished to be taken when the Parisian No.6 had missed the match against Metz on September 16 due to pain in the adductor.
Already.
The body of Verratti is monitored with particular acuity by the medical staff because of his propensity to let go when the summits are announced.
This summer again, the Italian had only been able to play a few minutes of the half and then of the final of the Champions League.
Next Wednesday, it is a capital trip to Manchester United that awaits Marco Verratti and PSG.
The native of Pescara is expected to play his 62nd European match in the Parisian jersey, a record in the club's history.
In the meantime, he will continue to pick up the pace this Saturday against Bordeaux to be able to be in full possession of his means at Old Trafford.
Paris will need its master to play the middle ground more than ever.