Paris Saint-Germain – A change misunderstanding: why Georginio Wijnaldum stumbles in France

Jürgen Klopp, known to be a sentimentalist, became very melancholy in the summer when one of his longtime top performers and favorite players said goodbye. “Farewell, Gini. You came, saw and won a lot. You are a Liverpool legend. Now – and forever,” said the Liverpool manager.

Warm farewell words for Georginio Wijnaldum, who switched from Newcastle United to the Mersey in 2016 and celebrated both the Champions League and English championship titles with the Reds.

Klopp added: “I’ll miss him like crazy. He was one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached. His contribution was outstanding, every coach’s dream,” enthused the former Dortmund coach. Klopp continued the tribute: “The hole he leaves as a person will be huge. His teammates respected and adored him. His smile brightened up our workplace. He was a big part of our beating heart.”

Wijnaldum eke out a reserve existence

Paris coach Mauricio Pochettino initially relied on the Dutchman, but from mid-September it was only enough for Wijnaldum to play the role of substitute, and in the meantime he has come off the bench four times in a row in the league. In his first Champions League game for the new club, he was substituted at half-time against Bruges, and in the two remaining games in the first half of the season he was a reserve player.

An unknown situation that prompted the 85-time international to vent his displeasure publicly. “I can’t say that I’m completely satisfied, because the situation isn’t what I imagined,” said Wijnaldum in an interview with the Dutch medium “NOS” back in October. He added: “But that’s football too. I’ll have to learn to deal with it. I’m a fighter. I have to stay positive and work to turn the tide.”

Double pack against Leipzig only a short flare-up

In fact, the metaphorical tide seemed to take a turn for the better shortly thereafter. He scored his first points for PSG against RB Leipzig in the premier class with two goals (final score 3-2) at the beginning of November, just a few days later he scored a goal in the league game against Girondins Bordeaux.

A central midfielder – unlike a center forward – should not only be measured by goals and assists, but above all the influence on the game should be taken into account.

However, Wijnaldum’s role under Pochettino is very difficult to grasp. While he was used in 218 of 237 games at Liverpool as an eighth or sixth, at PSG he played in a total of 24 competitive games in the right and left midfield, as a tenth and most recently against Olympique Lyon (1-1) even as an offensive right winger .

Wijnaldum as a right winger: A failed experiment

An experiment that went terribly wrong. After striker Mauro Icardi (16), Wijnaldum recorded the second fewest ball actions of all Parisians (55) and won only 33 percent of his tackles. In the 83rd minute he was replaced by Dina Ebimbe.

Pochettino referred to Wijnaldum’s unconventional position on the thin staff cover: “It always depends on which players you have available,” the Argentine was quoted as saying by the French sports newspaper “L’Équipe”.

Pochettino said of Wijnaldum: “I don’t think it’s a question of position, it’s a question of form. He has a lot of experience, has been at great clubs. He’s used to playing in different positions.” Despite all the experience: Wijnaldum was last used on the attacking right flank at PSV Eindhoven in 2013.

Arsenal FC is probably courting Wijnaldum

The most recent misunderstanding is only symbolic for the previous time on the Seine. Rumors have been circulating for months about a possible departure of the 31-year-old. In addition to Wijnaldum’s nouveau riche ex-club Newcastle United, Arsenal FC is repeatedly traded as a potential buyer.

Emmanuel Petit, Gunners legend and world champion with France, would be delighted with such a deal. “You wouldn’t believe how much Georginio Wijnaldum is being talked about in France,” the former professional told bookmakers.co.uk. “I was at the stadium when he scored two goals against Leipzig. I thought he had finally arrived in Paris.”

Wijnaldum ‘isolated in the dressing room’

An obvious fallacy. “He’s struggling and isolated in the dressing room. He doesn’t have that relationship with his team-mates that he had at Liverpool,” said Petit. “He seems to lack affection. The competition at PSG is very tough. We all know what great qualities Wijnaldum has, he was a top player at Liverpool. A return to the Premier League could do him good.”

It is very likely that Arsenal will still be active on the transfer market in winter. Coach Mikel Arteta recently complained about the precarious personnel situation, which had worsened again due to the precarious Corona situation. “We are very, very thinly staffed,” said the Spaniard at a press conference, prophesying: “So of course we’ll look around and explore options. We’re just too thinly staffed.”

Wijnaldum could put things right for the north Londoners. How would Jürgen Klopp react if his former favorite player suddenly laced up for a national competitor?