“We all know the path to follow
. ”
Luis Enrique is not wrong.
Between now and Real Sociedad in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on February 14, since that's what he was questioned about, the road ahead is known: PSG will play three matches, starting with a trip to Strasbourg this Friday (9 p.m.), opening the 20th day of Ligue 1.
“The most important match is the one against Strasbourg, a well-prepared team, which is having a very good season and has not haven't lost for a while (6 matches, Editor's note)
, he continued
.
There will be a big atmosphere.
We have to improve our performance, our performances, our performances and certain important aspects of the game. We will have to play every three days and we like that, it allows us to use all the players.
But first, we have to take the three points.”
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Calendar and results Ligue 1
Ligue 1 ranking
That would indeed be a good idea.
There is no fire in the lake in L1, the Rouge et Bleu, solid leaders in the standings, posting a total of 44 points, six more than Nice and nine better than Brest, who face each other on Sunday (5:05 p.m.) .
But after the 2-2 draw against Stade Brestois last Sunday, Paris would be well advised to restart the first.
Brest, a match at the end of which “Lucho” declared himself “
annoyed
”.
And there was reason: his players had squandered a two-goal lead in the second half.
Physical failure?
“We had difficulty pressing and we lost a lot of balls but it's not a physical problem
,” promises the Spanish coach.
Of which act.
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If we don't have all the ingredients, all the teams can hurt us.
Lucas Hernandez
As Lucas Hernandez said, Paris had mostly “
fallen asleep
” after the rest.
“If we don’t put all the ingredients in, all the teams can hurt us
,” added the French international defender.
Worrying?
A little.
Even if Paris, winner of its previous five matches, has not lost since November 7.
It was in C1, on the ground of AC Milan (2-1).
Especially since the same causes had the same consequences as in the first leg.
Except that this time, Kylian Mbappé did not have the opportunity to snatch victory with a saving penalty, as was the case at Francis-Le-Blé (2-3).
Clearly, it is very difficult to see real progress over the weeks.
And this while Luis Enrique had guaranteed that PSG would be “
much stronger in February
” after the draw in Dortmund (1-1).
Individually or collectively, the work is still substantial, with very low slow times, little efficiency, pressing not as impressive as at the start of the season... In addition, Luis Enrique likes to inflict penalties on himself: his perpetual turnover is not doesn't help.
“I like to have a big rotation to involve all the players
,” he repeats over and over again.
It is still necessary that the players in question give satisfaction.
Respectively preferred to Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembélé for one evening, Lucas Beraldo and Randal Kolo Muani hardly shone against SB29.
And this even if the French international scored his eighth goal of the season.
“I’m very happy to have it.
He can play as a nine or on both sides.
For me and the team, it’s very positive.
His attitude and behavior are perfect
,” swears Luis Enrique, who is also playing less and less Gonçalo Ramos or Manuel Ugarte, two of the most expensive recruits last summer at €80 and €60 million respectively.
Not to mention Nordi Mukiele.
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Happiness is in the transition
However, it is not because the Spanish coach is overwhelmed with options behind.
In the absence of Achraf Hakimi, just eliminated with Morocco at the CAN, he entrusted the role of right side/piston to Carlos Soler and especially Warren Zaire-Emery, midfielders, rather than to the former Leipzig.
“My decisions demonstrate my tastes, not everyone can play,”
slips the former Barça coach, whose perceptions do not seem, ultimately, so adapted to the qualities of the squad, to the profiles of players who are never as dangerous... as in transition.
A shame for a coach so obsessed with possession.
“Against this PSG team, you are often most in danger when you have the ball!”
, confirmed Brest coach Éric Roy on Sunday.
The Parisian workforce barely changed during the winter transfer window, while the progression mentioned after Dortmund could also have come from there.
With Milan Skriniar, Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes out, an experienced defender would not have been too much.
We talked about Mathijs de Ligt.
Poached from São Paulo, Beraldo (20 years old) represents more of a bet for the future.
Ditto for the other Parisian recruit of the winter, Gabriel Moscardo (18 years old, Corinthians), recently operated in Qatar and who will not arrive until the summer.
For the rest, Luis Campos exfiltrated Cher Ndour (Braga, loan), Noah Lemina (Wolverhampton, loan) and Hugo Ekitike (Frankfurt, loan).
Layvin Kurzawa is still there.
Mukiele too.
Luis Enrique now knows what to expect, while big names have been mentioned in recent weeks, from Bruno Guimaraes to De Ligt, including Joshua Kimmich and the kid Lenny Yoro (18 years old).
So many smoke screens intended for… Mbappé, to push him to extend?
Maybe.
In the meantime, “KM” is still in the dark.
And Paris with him.
The captain of the Blues, in essence, recalled that PSG would be
“protected”
if he decided to leave in the off-season.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi responded to him a week later, explaining to what extent his departure would amount to treason.
Com' against com'.
At present, the trend is towards a departure.
But who knows with Kylian Mbappé.
One thing is certain: his recent repositioning in the axis is not what suits him best…
Read also PSG-Brest notes: Barcola in every move, clumsy Mbappé, roaring 100th for Magnetti
It's a process.
When it's completely good, we'll ride.
Kylian Mbappé
Still, Luis Enrique will have to deal with all this in view of the C1 and the rest.
More choice.
The squad will no longer move.
The die is cast.
For better and for worse.
Hakimi will be available soon.
Zaire-Emery will move up to the middle.
Nuno Mendes will return.
Reasons for hope.
Let’s not forget that everything is new or almost, new coach, new policy, new players…
“It’s a whole process.
We see the beginnings of something that will take a little more time, but when it is completely good, we will roll
,” Mbappé recently promised on
Amazon Prime Video
.
Now, it's time for Strasbourg, a Racing team in good shape... but which inexplicably let its goalkeeper, Matz Sels, slip away at the end of the transfer window.
“They are on a good dynamic, they are quite calm in the middle of the ranking.
They play well with the ball, they try to come out from behind, they defend very well… We will have to be ready
,” summarizes Luis Enrique.
It will especially be necessary to be there on February 14.
But given the construction site, Parisians have no time to lose.
Every match is an opportunity to move forward and grow on the path that will lead them to the Champions League.
This Friday, it will be without Bradley Barcola, the only one who shows real signs of progress.