"
A decisive influence
".
This is how the very cautious Mauricio Pochettino described the impact of Kylian Mbappé on the performance of "his" Paris Saint-Germain.
A sweet understatement for this follower of the language of wood.
At 22, the international tricolor (51 sel., 19 goals) often represents, and this is not new, the tree that hides the forest for a PSG with a minimalist game project, even if the results are convincing .
Very convincing.
To discover
Ligue 1 fixtures and results
League 1 standings
If they are regularly criticized for the quality of their football, the Rouge et Bleu have indeed won 11 of their 15 matches in all competitions, for two draws - the most recent Sunday in Marseille (0-0) - and two losses . Beyond his six goals and eight assists, Mbappé, who only missed the Champions Trophy against Lille in 2021-22 (0-1) since the start of the current season (14 matches), gives the la for this Paris-SG so often without idea in its offensive expression. The differences, that's him. The depth is him. The danger is him. "
In matches where it is harder collectively, these players make the difference
", recently said "Poche", referring to Mbappé and Lionel Messi. Except that this kind of match is the norm for PSG. "
For the moment, we are not playing well and we are winning
”, whispered Mbappé after Leipzig (3-2).
Resumption early next week
Against Losc, this Friday at the opening of the 12th day, Paris-SG will nevertheless have to get by without its usual savior.
Victim of an "
ENT infection
", the former Monegasque "will
not resume training until the beginning of next week
", as reported by the club vice-champion of Europe 2020 on Thursday.
Mbappé is not the only one absent in the Parisian ranks, Marco Verratti Achraf Hakimi, Leo Paredes and Sergio Ramos missing.
Read also Mbappé on the Olympics: "It's really the thing I want to achieve in my career"
The Mastiffs will also aim for a third victory in a row over PSG, they who had taken three decisive points in the conquest of the title last spring, at the Parc des Princes (0-1). If so, it would be a first since ... 1988 for the club northerner, private Benjamin André and Sven Botman. “
It's a great challenge to have a good match at the Parc des Princes. We will have to be solid, well organized,
”said coach Jocelyn Gourvennec, challenged and also struggling to find the right fuel with Lille, modest ninth in the Ligue 1 standings before this match.
If they are disappointing in the game, often out of the deadlock by Kylian Mbappé, the Parisians are in the lead in L1 and the Champions League.
“
We are not satisfied with that.
We want to progress, to be better, to play better, collectively and individually.
It is moving in the right direction,
”promises Pochettino.
And to add: "
We know that we have to improve, play better and produce a better show.
We know that it matters at PSG and we are doing everything to improve.
"
The collective to make Mbappé forget
Without his strong man in attack, PSG will therefore have to raise the tone through play, rely even more on his collective. The obvious. We do not individually replace a Mbappé. And this even if Paris has a sufficiently large workforce to line up an attack line made up of Neymar, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria in case Lionel Messi was not able to start. The 34-year-old Argentinian six-time Ballon d'Or, victim of "
muscle discomfort
", did not train on Thursday. He is nevertheless part of the group, he who represents an option in the axis, closer to the goal than in Marseille, in order to fill the absence of Mbappé. "
It's a possibility, but we have others.
I remember Pep Guardiola who said he can play any position because he has this ability to do well everywhere,
"Pochettino said Thursday at a press conference, about"
the chosen one
"Messi , “
The best player in the world
”.
But the best player of Paris Saint-Germain, it is nevertheless Kylian Mbappé.
In any case, it is the most influential, the most effective, the most visible.
Read alsoPSG: Messi, all-powerful king at Barça and underused in Paris?
Especially since "Ney" is only a shadow of himself at the moment, no offense to his trainer.
“
He's a very creative player, an impressive talent.
I'm happy with him,
”said the former Tottenham coach, who had already declared himself“
satisfied
”with the Brazilian's performance at the Velodrome.
He was the only one in this case ... Last season, the capital club in any case lost four of its ten matches without the crack of Bondy, including the two played without him in the Champions League, in pools in Leipzig ( 2-1) and in the semi-finals return, on the ground of Manchester City (2-0).
His absence is therefore undeniably a blow for the vice-champion of France, even if it can also allow some to show themselves.
Messi as a conductor?
We think for example of Messi, if he can play, him that Thierry Henry saw too "
isolated
" Sunday in Marseille.
“
There can only be one conductor.
The problem is, there are a lot of conductors on this team… But Leo needs to set the pace for the game. At the moment, it's Kylian who has the ball quite often and that's fine. quickly against
”, had declared the former world champion 98 on
Amazon Prime Video
, suggesting that Pochettino should give the keys of the truck to the“ Pulga ”rather than to Mbappé.
To have.
To read also Pochettino: "We must play better and produce a better show, that counts at PSG"
“
Since the start of the season, I don't know if we have been able to field the same starting XI twice… We have a substantial squad, with 33 players. It is important that each player knows what is expected of him. After that, you have to choose 11. With the context, the selections, the continental competitions last summer, the suspensions, it's not what is best for work. But in football, you have to adapt to circumstances every day
, ”underlines Pochettino, who is wary of Mastiffs. "
It's a very strong team, with very good players, outgoing champions and a team that has earned their title.
We have always deserved our title when we are crowned after 38 days… We should have done much better last season, but they are the champions.
It will be tough, we expect a tough game, but we are preparing to play a good game and win.
“All before turning to C1 and Leipzig, Wednesday, and at the heart of a series of six matches in the space of 23 days from now until the international break.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/SIL73HWCGXKSZBZRANYT36EZLI.jpg)