If he attaches importance to the symbolism of numbers, Mauricio Pochettino, in post at PSG since January 2, 2021, will remember the 11th. At the Camp Nou, it was, in fact, the 11th game of his team under his mandate.
Without doubt the most successful.
The one on which he affixed his stamp and made appreciate a tactical sense already proven in the past at Tottenham.
Because if many heap praise on Kylian Mbappé, author of a resounding hat-trick on the Camp Nou lawn, the 48-year-old technician deserves just as much to be highlighted.
On Catalan lands, scoured with Espanyol for many years now, he came, he saw and he conquered.
The former coach of Bordeaux and Marseille, Elie Baup, called upon to provide his expertise on the brilliant success of PSG, was not mistaken.
He insists, in great detail, on the preponderant role played by his Argentinian counterpart, the architect of Parisian success.
The choice of men and the role of Verratti
“He pulled off a master stroke.
Nothing at home has been left to improvisation.
Everything has been carefully prepared.
It starts with the choice of men, says Baup.
Amené replaced Di Maria in particular, he opted for Kean.
His attitude to attack space gave PSG an alternative to Mbappé.
The Italian was a scorer, but not only.
He never hesitated, in the defensive phase, to behave like a 4th midfielder and also to limit the influence of Jordi Alba.
In Neymar's absence, he gave Verratti the keys.
It is a phenomenon.
When he's not there, it's not the same Paris.
Free to move, he showed his technical accuracy in the heart of the game without forgetting to defend.
In this higher position, it tends to be more efficient.
He dezoned when needed, playing a lot on the left side in the second half.
"
Verratti, in the middle of Busquets and Griezmann.
LP / Fred Dugit
The proximity of Mbappé, Kean and Icardi and the corridors freed
When approaching the component represented by the offensive animation of the champions of France, Baup raises an important point.
“We have noticed, in many sequences, that Mbappé and Kean were very close to Icardi.
It thus allowed Florenzi and Kurzawa, the full-backs, to take the width and bring solutions, he insists.
Barcelona players were then forced to back down.
They seemed a little confused and clearly hesitated as to what to do next.
Close the interior or take care of the corridors.
They were in trouble and to make matters worse, there was often a free player behind Busquets.
Paredes, Verratti or Marquinhos, the Parisian raisers were placed in optimal conditions.
"
Busquets smothered by Icardi and Messi weaned from balloons
We then touch another part of Pochettino's perfect shot.
Usually the hub of Catalan play and Messi's main provider, Sergio Busquets has never been able to speed up the game. He has been cleverly neutralized.
Like many of his partners, he was cruelly his age (32 years old)!
“Icardi abandoned the two exchanges to defend on Busquets, insists Baup.
Barça midfielders struggled to build and find Messi.
The latter's influence was limited.
Paris prevented combinations inside and cut the relationship between midfielder and attacker.
The involvement of all field players in the defensive phase has allowed PSG to control almost everything ”.
Paris had repeated the free kicks, faults of Barça
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This Parisian block-team also bears the signature of Pochettino.
“Everything was consistent, continues Baup.
Paris ran a lot more, won more duels.
Even the free kicks had been repeated ”.
This is still one of Barça's weaknesses identified by the Argentine coach.
Of the 21 goals conceded in La Liga, 5 were from set pieces, not counting penalties.
Moise Kean scoring the 3rd goal for PSG.
LP / Fred Dugit
Put into orbit by Paredes, Kean rushed into this breach to score 3rd goal.
“It was thought, assures Baup.
Because on this action, Marquinhos and Kimpembe occupy opposing players to free up space in Kean.
"
The 5 priority rule and good coaching
To listen to Baup, champion of France with Bordeaux in 1999, the upstream work of any trainer usually focuses on five specific situations.
"You have the ball, what do you do with it?"
You don't have it how you behave?
When you lose it, how do you react?
When you get it back how do you manage the transition phases?
Not to mention the set pieces.
It is the perpetual movement of football, situations that recur for all teams.
You must produce your analysis through these five precise points.
Mauricio had perfectly prepared his case On these five areas where the coach intervenes, he had everything good.
He had identified Barça's flaws.
".
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Its event management is also praised by Baup.
“He completely mastered the course of the match by not hesitating, in particular, to replace Gueye at half-time to protect himself from a possible expulsion.
He also anticipated the exit of Verratti (73rd) who, in the event of a warning, would have missed the return match.
He finally succeeded in his coaching by throwing Draxler, author of an assist on the 4th goal.
Everything went in the right direction for him ”.
Mbappé in the same role as with the Blues
In his distant duel with Ronald Koeman, Pochettino thus flew over the debates.
Reflection and anticipation prevailed in a form of improvisation.
On the one hand, we had a Catalan team relying, almost essentially, on a feat of Messi and on the other a harmonious collective, precision mechanics, moving forward with a real game plan and coherent animation.
And Paris, in addition, had Mbappé.
On the subject of Bondy's crack, Baup is inexhaustible.
“We found him in a role reminiscent of the one he has with the Blues with an axial striker.
It's Giroud in the France team and Icardi at PSG, Mbappé takes advantage of this fixing point to shine in his register made of explosiveness of speed and at the same time of opportunism to get the best profile from the spaces conceded by the opposing defense .
"
Mbappé put Pique to death on Tuesday evening.
LP / Fred Dugit
By operating on one side, the world champion finds himself facing the game and turns on the light.
“He can go inside and display his entire technical palette.
It's his best place, says Baup.
When he is alone at the forefront, he finds himself more back to the game and is less efficient and does not take advantage of space.
In the one on one, he eats anyone, he will atomize any defender and even several from the moment he starts moving that he begins to succeed in his catch of the ball, his control by his passing of legs, velocity and power.
It then becomes impossible to stop ”.
No one in Barcelona will come to register false.