Friday evening, at the end of the success painfully obtained against Angers (2-1), Mauricio Pochettino, the coach of the PSG recalled it again: “We have a workforce of 35 players including the young people.
That's three teams.
It's good to have so many players available, but seeing as only eleven players can play it can make some players unhappy.
It is not necessarily easy to live with, it requires management.
"
This Tuesday evening, against Leipzig, for the third day of the Champions League, Pochettino will have some constraints (absence of Paredes and still Ramos in particular) but he will align his attacking trio Messi, Mbappé, Neymar.
For the rest, he will once again be spoiled for choice to compose the rest of his team, even if, for example, Juan Bernat, yet back to competition, is not registered for the group stage of the competition.
By imagining that the entire Parisian workforce is available, we asked five witnesses to explain to us how they would play PSG.
"In the middle, so that the three in front can express themselves, they need pit bulls"
Luis Fernandez, former PSG coach, beIN Sports consultant
“When you are a coach, you first seek to put your assets in the best possible conditions so that they are the most effective. Messi, Mbappé and Neymar are boys who aim to play with the ball in their feet. That is already essential. We must therefore find the right balance with them, the right solutions in the animations. And I think it starts with three defenders. Marquinhos, Ramos and Kimpembe stand out quite naturally. Afterwards, on the outside, we have Hakimi and Mendes, or the little Bernat we have all been in love with, who have this particularity of riding, of going back and forth, in addition to being super efficient because, technically, they are good. In the middle, so that the three in front can express themselves, they need pitbulls. With Herrera or Gueye it is ideal. After,we have Verratti in front of the defense, which even Guardiola praised after City. With all that, at least you're tough, solid. "
"Paris is obliged to play high and to have an almost permanent possession in the opposing camp"
Elie Baup, trainer, beIN Sports consultant
“Already I would not like to be in Pochettino's place. It's easy to talk about it but, afterwards, to manage all these guys… He has to be strong. Because in the league, it's manageable, you can make it run. But in the Champions League which is the number one objective… It's hot! Then, it's good to talk about a system, but it is first of all the principles of the game that we are talking about. Paris is forced to play high and have almost permanent possession in the opposing camp. When they lose the ball, that's where the problem arises: are they able to do counter-pressing? Me, I see a hybrid thing but not fixed. For example: a form of 3-4-3 but which turns into 4-4-2 on loss of ball. The Guardian ? You have two monsters. What is certain is that the team will play very high so he has to be very good at kicking,and that he manages the depth really well. Afterwards, it's a notion of space (how do I reduce it or create it to play?) And time (when do I change?). "
"Around Verratti, you need players who have legs to play across the board"
Eric Roy, trainer, RMC Sport consultant
“I would line up this team in a 4-3-3 close to 4-5-1. For the guardian, we have a princely choice. I would opt for Navas because of his experience and background with the group. In a defense with 4, I would associate Marquinhos and Ramos in the axis and would entrust the corridors to Hakimi and Mendes. They are by nature carried forward, but given their athleticism, I will not be led to believe that they cannot defend. In the middle, Verratti is in my opinion essential in the axis in front of the defense. Around him, you need players who have legs to play across the board: Gueye on the left and Di Maria on the right, as he has already done at Real Madrid. In front, we can not play without the three of the MNM. Rather than sticking them to the lines, the idea would be to place Messi and Neymar inside, in a free placement,and Mbappé at the forefront. Without forcing him to defend low, when the ball is lost, this trio will have to play the opponent to force him to take the ball out to the sides. "
"In front, in great shape, you have to put all three"
Eric Rabesandratana, former defender, consultant France Bleu Paris
“In goal, whether it's Navas or Donnarumma, they're both super strong, but I would put Navas for seniority and experience. Then I would go on a three-way defense. On the right I put Hakimi, and on the left Bernat because, in great shape, he is a safe bet. In the middle, Verratti is untouchable, it is the first name that I obviously tick. And with him, I'll line up Gueye for his volume, although I really like Herrera right now. Finally, in front, in great shape, you have to put all three (Messi, Neymar, Mbappé). Now, to guarantee the success of this device, everyone must participate in the efforts, it is essential. We will have to restart the playing time after the break, with a different team perhaps from one half to the next. It's largely playable on balance,knowing that the wish is to have the ball to cause problems for the opponent by making him run. If you're decisive with the front three, you can afford to play like this. "
"You have to try to find a solution to be able to defend when you are going to lose the ball in front"
Mickaël Madar, former striker, Canal + consultant
“Already to play with Neymar, Mbappé and Messi, you still need to be strong defensively. You have to try to find a solution to be able to defend when you are going to lose the ball in front. Otherwise, you'll take the broth. I find that like the France team which has more or less succeeded in this change of moving to a three-behind system, by playing with Marquinhos, Ramos, and Kimpembe, you will be able to put two guys on the sides : Hakimi and possibly Mendes, because Bernat will take a while to recover. I put Gueye and Verratti in the middle. In front: Messi-Mbappé and Neymar just a little behind. Or the reverse with Messi a little behind the other two. In any case, things move a lot, these are not fixed positions. After if you don't have Ramos,maybe it's better to strengthen your midfield and play four behind. But when you have Hakimi and Mendes just going up, and Kimpembe in the middle, it's going to be problematic. For the goalkeeper, I was pro Navas, and I remain so. "