If there is one PSG player who did not benefit from the change of coach, it is Rafinha.
Surprise rookie in the offseason, the Brazilian international midfielder (2 caps, 1 goal) landed in Paris at the very end of the transfer window after being released by Barça, his training club.
And with a packed infirmary, Thomas Tuchel was quick to use it.
In fact, the German coach did not wait to have him under his command to be a "big fan" of Rafael Alcantara's brother.
He explained that he had fallen under the spell of "Rafa" after having supervised the Liverpool player in the Barcelona reserve, when he was in Mainz (2008-14).
"I have always followed his career since," said Tuchel, referring to "an extraordinary guy", "always decisive, totally reliable" and overall a "good player".
“Everything I expect from a Barça player, I find him at home.
He is humble, super pleasant, always with a smile in training, he gives everything in each session, he always thinks of the team, he has qualities of game intelligence, tactics and technique, he is the very high level ”, explained the Bavarian, conquered.
55 short minutes under the direction of Pochettino
His successor on the Parisian bench is much less.
If he played 17 matches (0 goal, 5 assists), including ten as holder, with Thomas Tuchel, Rafael Alcantara do Nascimento was only entitled to 55 small minutes in two appearances and no tenure since the appointment scored by Mauricio Pochettino.
20 minutes against Nîmes (3-0) in early February and 35 against Monaco (0-2), last weekend.
It must be said that the 28-year-old midfielder was stopped by the Covid at the beginning of the year (out for 4 matches), before being the victim of a muscle alert (2 matches).
"
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But that's not the only reason Pochettino doesn't rely on him as much as Tuchel.
"All decisions are sporting decisions," the Argentinian technician had promised before the Cup match in Caen (1-0 victory).
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. ”
If we are to believe
Le Parisien
, Pochettino had his opinion even before taking PSG in hand.
Our colleagues say in fact that the native of Murphy “has never been a big fan” of Rafinha.
"According to several sources, his doubts about the player's potential do not date from today," they continue, adding that "Pochettino sees a player unable to win" at Barça.
Recall that the person concerned only played 90 matches under the Catalan colors, including the remount of March 8, 2017, against Paris Saint-Germain (6-1).
We have also seen him evolve, on loan, with Inter Milan and Celta Vigo.
Shortage of designers in Dijon
Except that Mauricio Pochettino might have to trust Rafinha this Saturday.
In Dijon (5 p.m., live commentary), facing the red lantern in the Ligue 1 standings, the Argentinian coach will have to compose without several of his most creative players, from Neymar (adductors) to Marco Verratti (foot), via Leo Paredes (suspended) and Angel Di Maria (thigh), without forgetting the side Alessandro Florenzi (adductor) and of course Juan Bernat (knee).
More than ever, the left “papatte” of the Hispanic-Brazilian could be useful in order to give cartridges to Kylian Mbappé, Moise Kean and to the Parisian attackers.
# HereCestParispic.twitter.com / FCwov6l3we
- Rafinha Alcantara (@Rafinha) February 25, 2021
Especially since there is no question of returning empty-handed from Burgundy, knowing that Paris only occupies third place in L1, behind Lille and Lyon.
If the triple champions of France want to make the pass of four, there is no more time to waste.
"In view of our knowledge, this is one of the options we are considering for the match in (Dijon), that it can start," concedes Mauricio Pochettino, who has not learned of the withdrawal of some of his players that Friday.
“We worked on different possibilities,” he explains.
There isn't much time.
Tomorrow (this Saturday), we will try to find the best organization to win. ”
Once again, we imagine that the DFCO will adopt a tactic which will mainly aim to defend well.
Like Monaco, last Sunday.
It will therefore be necessary to see Parisians more inspired than against ASM, even if the players of David Linarès do not have the qualities of those of Niko Kovac.
"It is true that the team lacked freshness, there were gaps in terms of creation in the last meters against Monaco, which also defended well, admits" Poche ".
We had done well in this area against Barcelona.
For Dijon, we will find solutions and the players who will be on the ground will certainly be up to it. ”
Rafinha, Draxler and Sarabia contending for a place in the eleven
Solutions that Rafinha could provide, if he has the opportunity to play Gaston-Gérard, or even to start.
Julian Draxler and Pablo Sarabia could also have a say in the starting XI.
One thing is certain: Rafinha should not miss it if we call on him.
“Those who play and those who don't have to stay totally motivated and focused on what they want.
Otherwise, you put your foot down, ”he said recently, in the columns of the
Parisian
.
It is up to him to move from the category of players who "do not play" to those who play by proving to Mauricio Pochettino that he was wrong about him.
And maybe one day, the latter will join Thomas Tuchel in Rafinha's fan club ...
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League 1 standings