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PSG: between Tuchel and Leonardo, the points of tension accumulate

Thomas Tuchel replaced by Massimo Allegri, with Leonardo in charge. This is the scenario deployed by some Italian specialists in the transfer window after the final of the Champions League lost by PSG against Bayern Munich. This hypothesis, which none of our information confirms, illustrates a curious atmosphere around the German coach after leaving the best European result of the last 25 years. Behind relations described internally as cordial but without effusion, a balance of power is established between the sporting director and the manager of PSG.

“Leonardo probably expects something else from a coach, but he is very down to earth,” explains a source close to the group. PSG are a long way from the time when they could spend millions to part with a coach, especially in the post-Covid period. In summary, Leonardo returned to PSG to impose his paw on it and wants to shape it as he pleases. Tuchel, for his part, feels strengthened by the journey in the Champions League but knows he is being watched one year from the end of his contract. In this context, he intends to put forward his ideas.

A way to disagree

Leonardo has remained silent since the Champions League final. Some players have privately regretted the tactical management of the match by their coach and the changes made do not only talk about Parisian supporters. By bringing in Choupo-Moting and Julian Draxler, a player at the end of his contract two hours later and another that PSG wants to sell at all costs, the German has in any case demonstrated a certain distance between his inspirations of the moment and the choice of the Brazilian sports director.

This is not the first. Leonardo had decided since last summer that this season would be Thiago Silva’s last and he followed this logic to the end, even though the Brazilian’s agent reported yesterday in the Team a call from Leonardo’s last minute to offer the player an additional year of contract. “Tuchel always wanted to keep Thiago. The one who did not want is Leonardo, and it is he who has the power, ”Paulo Tonietto summed up.

The management of Edinson Cavani and Mauro Icardi also calls out. Tuchel, focused on the short term, gave his confidence until confinement to the 33-year-old Uruguayan, despite his end of contract. Leonardo meanwhile negotiated and exercised the call option for the 27-year-old Argentinian with his sights set on the future. With zero minutes of play against Leipzig and Bayern, as much as against Dortmund before the suspension of competitions, Icardi is not Tuchel’s number 1 asset.

Tuchel emancipates himself in his communication

The transfer window that opens is a new area of ​​friction for the two key men of the Parisian project. Leonardo spends his time explaining that it will be necessary to be sober this summer. Tuchel openly calls for reinforcements: “If we want to keep this level, we must use this transfer window and expand the workforce. […] We have a lot of things to do to improve the team and maintain its level. “A situation which is reminiscent of the attitude of the German towards Antero Henrique, the former sports director.

If Tuchel is emancipated in his communication, it is also because Leonardo’s authority is less sealed. The conflict with some executives after the birthdays of Cavani, Di Maria and Icardi has forced him to relax some positions somewhat. He notably left Tuchel, at the end of Final 8, to grant more than a week to his players who took the opportunity to fly massively to Ibiza. Generations that do not really resemble the vision of professionalism that the former Brazilian international usually defends.

During the Final 8 of the Champions League, with the common goal and the results helping, all parties functioned in good harmony, displaying good understanding and solidarity conducive to performance. One year from the end of Thomas Tuchel’s contract, however, it will take other positive episodes to strengthen ties that are gradually weakening. “My contract is not the subject,” said the manager in Lisbon. We must first build a new team, have the same ideas. “

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