Monaco's victory at the Parc des Princes on Sunday evening impressed the technicians.
Not so much on the offensive aspect since ASM only provided three real chances for two goals scored.
But the game plan imagined by Niko Kovac, the Croatian coach, impressed Philippe Montanier the former coach of Valenciennes, Rennes, Lens or Real Sociedad.
“The organization of Monaco was almost perfect since they managed to reduce the spaces and close the axis and the sides.
Under these conditions, there was not much room for maneuver left for Paris, ”explains the technician recently dismissed by Standard de Liège.
A hybrid defensive system
While a debate has existed on the number of defenders aligned by the Monegasque staff, Montanier delivers his analysis.
“The ASM worked with a four-way defense but Aguilar had a special role, decrypts the one who started on the Boulogne bench.
He was playing as an eccentric midfielder, but when the game approached 16.50m and Kurzawa was very high, he came down and Disasi took Mbappé.
It's a fairly hybrid system, but Monaco is used this season to modulate its system according to the transitions.
"
Isolated and limited Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé was muzzled by the very disciplined Monegasque defenders. / LP / Frédéric Dugit
The ability of the Rocher team to reduce space and isolate Mbappé were determining factors in the Parisian defeat.
"Isolated Mbappé, with less space, and especially with two-man shots, this immediately limits his field of action," said the former Lensois coach.
In Barcelona, there were more spaces, and we know how important space is to make the difference.
When there are fewer spaces, you are dependent on your individual talents who are able to make the difference in the face of a reinforced defense, explains Philippe Montanier.
And with a midfielder made up of Gueye, Paredes and Herrera, Paris lacked creativity against a compact block.
We can regret the absences of Neymar and Di Maria on this match.
When Verrratti returned, we immediately noticed his ability to fix, eliminate, and distribute the game. It is less the quality of Herrera, who is more of a box to box player able to project himself forward.
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Monaco outnumbered in attack
In defensive difficulty on the reversals of play of the Monegasques, Paris had difficulty in apprehending these situations of play. "With its system, Monaco managed to attack at 3 in the axis (Ben Yedder, Diop and Volland), more its side which were projected very quickly forward.
The Aguilar centers could thus be received by Caio Henrique.
ASM could therefore end up with five players facing the defense of four from PSG, ”explains Montanier.
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The ratings of Parisian players
In these cases, the six defensive players of PSG must slide perfectly on the overturns on the outside, which Liverpool does well with its 4 defenders and its midfielders.
The Reds have mastered the width well, and it is the defensive midfielders who arrive to defend from the sides.
But it's hard to change the animation, because Paris normally imposes its rhythm and its style.
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A lack of movements and calls for Paris
In any case, for the former goalkeeper, it is not up to the lane attackers to carry out this work of withdrawal.
“They are able to do it.
Kean has done it at times, he recalls.
But they have to keep energy to attack.
Even if some teams put a lot of effort on their attackers in these types of situations, and it works too.
But Paris had also played in the week
(Editor's note: against Barça, 1-4)
.
No, what PSG lacked in the face of this type of defense is more movement and call games.
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