Less than a week from Barcelona and the Champions League, PSG goes to Caen (L2) this Wednesday, in the 32nd of the Coupe de France.
The opportunity for some of the players less used by Mauricio Pochettino to show what they are capable of?
In any case, several elements have seen their playing time decrease since the arrival of the 48-year-old Argentine technician, who regularly bets on a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 in Paris.
Overview of these losers of the change of coach on the bench of Paris Saint-Germain.
Rafinha, the forgotten one by Pochettino
It was one of the good surprises at the start of the season.
Arrived on tiptoe from Barça, where he never really won, Rafinha (almost) no longer plays since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.
20 short minutes in total!
Admittedly, the Brazilian international was affected by the Covid-19 at the beginning of the year.
But this is not the only reason for this low playing time, as confirmed by the Argentine coach on the eve of the trip to Caen.
“All decisions are sporting decisions,” he promises.
In his case, he was affected by the Covid when we arrived.
After that, we have a large squad, we make decisions and they can't all play.
But it's important that the players are ready when called upon.
We know that he will be important and that he will have the opportunity to play at some point. ”
Maybe this Wednesday?
"
READ ALSO
- PSG: Mbappé (really) goes up in power
"
READ ALSO
- Notes from OM-PSG: Verratti in the oven and in the mill, Payet sees red
Herrera, Gueye and Danilo must wait their turn
Thomas Tuchel saw in Leo Paredes above all an alternative to Marco Verratti.
Mauricio Pochettino likes to combine them.
When he was able to have all his weapons in front, which will not be the case during the absence of Angel Di Maria, the former coach of Tottenham has indeed given his confidence to the Italian-Argentine tandem in the midfield.
Suddenly, Ander Herrera, "Gana" Gueye and especially Danilo Pereira must wait their turn, being sent to the front only when an attacker or one of the two midfielders is unavailable.
Last Sunday for example, during the victory on Marseille soil (0-2), it was Gueye who was established in place of… Neymar Jr, with Verratti in the oven and at the mill in the position of playmaker. Herrera was still unavailable and Danilo entered at the end of the game at the Vélodrome.
To see if the (more than probable) package of Di Maria will allow one of them to invite himself in the starting 11 next Tuesday, in Barcelona.
Unless the Pablo Sarabia option is required.
Bakker (far) behind Kurzawa
While waiting for the return of Juan Bernat (knee), Mitchel Bakker and Layvin Kurzawa compete for the minutes on the left.
Abdou Diallo can also claim it, he who had for example started in this position in Manchester (1-3), under Thomas Tuchel.
But so far, a name has taken hold in Pochettino's mind, that of Kurzawa.
If there was any semblance of a debate between the international tricolor and the young (20 years) Dutch in the eyes of Tuchel, there is obviously no for his successor.
Diallo, Thilo Kehrer and Colin Dagba, they were not already starting in the shoes of holders with Tuchel.
Although, there was a place to take behind when Marquinhos was used in the middle, which Pochettino does not do.
»
READ ALSO
- PSG: Angel Di Maria package in Barcelona
»
READ ALSO
- OM-PSG in an empty stadium, what sadness…
The young shoots of the club
Knowing the course of Mauricio Pochettino as a coach, we can not blame him for not trusting young people.
But it is clear that the Parisian titis have not (yet?) Benefited from his arrival at the club at the start of the year.
Of course, Thomas Tuchel often had to call on them to compensate for the many packages he had to make.
But players like Kays Riuz-Atil must have started to get used to being called up for first-team matches.
With the infirmary which emptied at the start of the year, they no longer have that chance very often.
Tenured four times at the end of 2020, even with an entry into the Champions League as a bonus, Timothée Pembélé - currently in Covid protocol - has not had the slightest minute to eat since entering Saint-Etienne ( 1-1).
Sarabia, Kean and Draxler, more than ever in the shadow of the “fantastic 4”
Certainly, Moise Kean has enjoyed significant playing time since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, with notably four starts and two goals against ASSE ( 1-1) and Brest (3-0).
But Mauro Icardi, finally operational after a difficult start to the season, clearly represents the number 1 option for his coach.
With 13 goals in 26 matches, Kean was perhaps hoping for more competition… For example, he was only allowed two minutes in each of the two matches against OM in 2021, and remained stuck on bench two times (Montpellier, Lorient).
For Sarabia, not too much change: there is still an option off the bench and entered all matches under Pochettino, at least a few minutes, with a tenure against Nîmes (3-0).
Julian Draxler, he saw his minutes melt like snow in the sun.
From Brest, he was only entitled to 10!
Read also
Coupe de France: the results of the 32nd finals
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/S7UVDTX7DREC7DXVCZN6MEKGBY.jpg)
