For the first time, Mauricio Pochettino had a full group for the reception of Manchester City (1-2) on Wednesday evening, at the Parc des Princes.
The Parisian coach was therefore spoiled for choice and was able to line up his best players at kickoff with Marquinhos, recovered from injury, Verratti, Neymar, Mbappé and others.
As a result, the former Espanyol Barcelona manager had to make choices. Thus, he preferred to start Mitchel Bakker (20) on the left flank rather than Abdou Diallo (just back) and Layvin Kurzawa. The Dutch U23 international did not make a bad impression. But, like his team, he suffered a lot after the break, faced with the ardor of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva.
The Citizens came back more conquering, more aggressive too.
Pep Guardiola's team raised the cursor in offensive and defensive intensity by collecting the balls higher up the pitch.
The Parisians, for their part, have taken a step back.
“It must be said that they had done a lot of defensive animation in the first half, with a lot of permutations which cost energy.
We saw them more extinct ", judge the former defender of PSG, Tripy Makonda," surprised by the late changes of Pochettino ".
"Danilo or Herrera could have returned before to bring new blood"
Seeing his team in difficulty upon returning from the locker room, the Argentinian waited for the expulsion of Idrissa Gueye (77th) to react and make his first change with the entry of Danilo Pereira in place of Angel Di Maria (80th). ). Herrera replaced Paredes then (83rd). “We would have liked changes earlier, plague Makonda, consultant for France Bleu Paris. For example, Danilo or Herrera could have come back before, to bring new blood to the middle. The entry of a fixing striker, like Kean or Icardi, would also have done good to push the block up. We could have played in support on him and better bring out the balls. "
This has not been done. Mauricio Pochettino preferred to maintain his confidence in his holders. "But would bringing Danilo and Herrera in earlier have it changed the face of the game?" I doubt it, procrastinates Philippe Montanier, ex-coach of Real Sociedad. For me, the influence of Mauricio's choices on this meeting is not huge. "
