As has been stated many times already this season, Paris Saint-Germain are not in top form.
They’re comfortably sitting second in a tough Champions League group but have still to play Real Madrid twice, two games that will be an early look at two teams who have a real shot at winning the competition. Domestically, they sit atop Ligue 1, despite looking highly uncomfortable at times.
So, keeping this in mind, how exactly are PSG still managing to dominate?
It’s a credit to Laurent Blanc that his team have managed to get results without playing particularly well, and if they keep it up then the Ligue 1 title will be wrapped up in no time. Looking deeper into PSG’s early season success, the underrated players of the team appear to be stepping into more important roles, taking on responsibilities and gathering headlines that are usually saved for the more glittering names.
Take Serge Aurier and Maxwell as examples. Two fullbacks who have never been – and, in all likelihood, will never be – considered ‘world class’, but both have shone early this season for PSG, particularly Aurier, who has to perform to keep out Dutch fullback Gregory van der Wiel. It’s not just in the full back positions either. In a tactical shift by Blanc, demonstrated in the seasons early games, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is being utilised in a more creative role, opening space further up the field for Edinson Cavani who is benefiting hugely.
Cavani – who has been scathingly criticised since his move from Napoli for not being quite prolific enough – has scored 8 goals in 10 games so far in all competitions this season, as well as 3 in 3 for his national team. He finally appears to be consistently producing when his team need him. This isn’t to suggest that Edinson Cavani is not a star, he has just not shone as brightly as expected. Others like Javier Pastore have also begun to show the form that has gotten them such praise in the past. Pastore, who is at times the forgotten man for PSG, is becoming a crucial element, although maybe not quite crucial enough to oust Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verrati from the midfield three. Regardless, the Argentine is a handy weapon to inject late into games, or to use as an alternative to any of the front six.
Certainly, PSG’s stars are also performing, but not quite to levels expected of a team that has invested so much. Angel Di Maria, for example, has looked dazzling at times but disinterested in others. During those latter moments, his hangdog expression matches that of Brazil’s Lucas Moura, who hasn’t got going at all so far this season, looking like the worst player on the field in a number of games so far. It won’t be long until he’s dropped if his dire performances continue. Ezequiel Lavezzi has also not been at his best, not helped by the fact Blanc continues to use him as an impact sub, meaning he can’t quite get enough game time to be truly impactful.
The season has just begun and there’s a long way to go for PSG, both domestically and in Europe. But if performances from these unheralded squad members continue, it’ll be a terrific ride. The team is lacking a little bit of cutting edge to really succeed in the Champions League, and, as injuries to key players will be inevitable, it’s unclear if they have the backups to slot straight in and be as efficient. The Ligue 1 title is already looking a sure thing and PSG’s traditional challengers are not putting much of a fight, indivdually or collectively.
As ever though, anything can happen and this international break is just another opportunity for other teams to hone their skills and formulate tactics that they can use to try and stifle Blanc’s team. Until then though, Les Parisiennes remain undefeated and efficient.
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