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PSG: the essential Mr. Verratti – Coupe de la Ligue

Replacing last Friday, the Italian international is still an essential cog in the capital club.

Surprise last Friday, at the Stade de France. Good for Leandro Paredes, bad for Marco Verratti. It is indeed the Argentinian international who started in place of the little Italian, during the final of the Coupe de France (1-0). And this while the latter was fit. The proof, he entered in the 75th minute, in place of … Paredes. Perhaps Verratti was not as serious as his partners during the coronavirus hiatus? Missed. “He was disciplined during these four months, underlines the German coach. He is as “fit” as possible after this bizarre and long phase without a match. I’m not worried because he’s come back in good physical shape and he’s ready. ”

“Verratti replacing? It was a super difficult decision ”

Thomas Tuchel

In fact, it was simply a choice. “It was the first time that I left Marco on the bench when he is totally ready to play, explained Tuchel, almost embarrassed, last Friday. It was a super tough decision because both deserved to play. It’s a choice for Leo because he was very strong against Dortmund (2-0, on March 11, editor’s note) and I therefore decided to leave them (Gueye and Paredes). ” Arguments reiterated on the eve of the Coupe de la Ligue final against OL (9:10 pm), adding that “it was not Marco’s fault, not at all”.

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It remains to be seen whether the hierarchy could be permanently upset. After a choppy start, to put it mildly, Paredes has become a real option. And he has made a place of choice in the locker room too, not trivial. Enough to debunk Verratti, at the club since 2012 and indisputable holder under the orders of all Parisian coaches since Carlo Ancelotti? We know that the Italian international is never as comfortable as in a three-way environment, and that the establishment of 4-4-2, ideal for the Neymar / Mbappé tandem, is not cut out for him. From there to imagine that he no longer has his place in the eleven, there is room. And Paredes, despite his qualities, has not yet fulfilled it, far from it.

Moreover, Tuchel did not hesitate to sing the praises of the native of Pescara. “He’s a player with extraordinary qualities, he always finds solutions and he has always deserved to play,” he says. In addition, the qualities of the person concerned are obviously essential in the conservation of the ball. Admittedly, PSG version Tuchel is not Barça de Guardiola, but all the same. “We always want to have the ball, but we also want to recover it to have high intensity phases,” notes the German coach. If we accelerate, we do the counter-pressing, for a few minutes, it’s important to breathe. And I prefer to do it with the ball in my feet. ” And so with Marco Verratti on the ground. Moreover, “Herr Tuchel” does not make too much of a mystery as to his potential tenure this Friday: “It’s a great option for (PSG-OL), that’s clear.”

Exit the 4-4-2 against Atalanta?

And there is a good chance that the 27-year-old will also be lined up for the kick-off against Atalanta on August 12 in Lisbon. Indeed, the 4-4-2 could leave its place to a 4-3-3, with the probable absence of Kylian Mbappé and that, certain, of Angel Di Maria, suspended. If so, Marco Verratti would be more than ever at the heart of the game and the Parisian device, not to the displeasure of a few who imagine it more indispensable than it was. These will highlight his injuries, his presumed lifestyle, his propensity to take cards (a yellow against the ASSE… while he was on the bench) or his chronic inability to score (9 goals and 52 assists in 311 games in Paris). But players who have his technical qualities, passing, vision, coupled with his defensive shooting, it does not run the streets…

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One thing is certain: Marco Verratti is not sorry to have started on the bench. “The coach always makes choices for the team, to win,” he said at a press conference. When you play in a team like PSG, it’s always possible to have to sit on the bench … Of course, everyone wants to play the big matches, the finals. But I have great respect for Leo, who played for me this time. He’s a very strong player. If we are still in the race in C1, I must thank him because he had a great match against Dortmund. But we’re friends too. ” And to continue: “It can happen. Sometimes you expect to play and you don’t play, but that’s okay. I know we will have a lot of matches. Everyone is important to the team, and that’s why there is no problem. ” In summary, all is well.

“Atalanta? It’s in everyone’s head, but we’re not going to prepare for this match now ”

Marco Verratti

We imagine that the one who had flirted with Barça in 2017 would lose his usual bonhomie and his smile if the situation were to continue over time. But in 4-4-2, and even more so in 4-3-3, Thomas Tuchel will certainly not be without him for long. And even less in Lisbon, where part of the thoughts of Verratti and company are already. “Thinking is one thing, preparing is another,” he explains. Of course, it’s on everyone’s mind. But it’s not like we’re going to prepare for the game against Atalanta now. We know that to get in shape, it’s good to play matches like that, finals, where everyone is 100%. After the final, we will think about this very important match. ” In the meantime, place at OL, in the furnace of a Stade de France announced well beyond 30 ° at kick-off.

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