Opposed to Nantes this Saturday, at the Parc des Princes, The Parisians will aim as much to consolidate their leadership position as to prepare for their trip to Germany on Wednesday.
The important thing is the three points? A football cliché which will still apply to the occasion of PSG-Nantes this Saturday (9 p.m.), during the 15th day of Ligue 1. Although, the important thing is perhaps elsewhere for Luis Enrique’s men. Obviously, they will aim to win against the Canaries and thus consolidate their leading position in the standings, who have a lead of four points over Nice and six over Monaco. But they would undoubtedly sign with both hands if they were promised a defeat on Saturday and a success on Wednesday. Paris Saint-Germain will indeed play its European future on the ground of Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League. If successful in Germany, they will advance to the round of 16. Otherwise, they will be dependent on the Newcastle-Milan result and could as easily continue their journey in C1 as be relegated to the Europa League play-offs. Maximum stakes, therefore.
The Parisians, however, do not intend to take this match against the Canaries over the head. The best way to prepare before the C1 is always to win. “It’s important to have a good home match before Dortmund», confirms Luis Enrique, at a press conference, about this “match important“. All the more important as it will (undoubtedly) relaunch two returning players, Marquinhos and Warren Zaire-Emery. Affected with their respective selections during the November rally, they resumed training in recent days. Expected for the Brazilian, surprising for the Frenchman who we thought was out for the rest of the year. «Marquinhos is fine. Warren is available. This is good news for the players, for the team and of course the coach too», smiles Luis Enrique.
Read alsoLuis Enrique before PSG-Nantes: “Total freedom for Mbappé”
Hey, first!
The Spanish coach actually has something to smile about, knowing the importance of the two players. The return of Marquinhos would put Lucas Hernandez back on the left. That of “WZE” is obviously appreciable because of the quality of the 17-year-old titi, but also because his natural replacement, Fabian Ruiz, is injured in the shoulder. Starters or substitutes, the important thing will be to see them in action at least part of the match this Saturday. Note that Achraf Hakimi is part of the group, he who missed Friday’s training due to the aftermath of the procedure relating to his indictment for rape. In the goals, it is Arnau Tenas who should officiate, knowing that Gigio Donnarumma, in the tough, is suspended for two matches and that Keylor Navas (back) is still unavailable. Which Tenas made his professional and Rouge et Bleu debut in Normandy. A successful first. Barring any major surprises, Donnarumma should however find his place in goal to face Borussia.
And on a tactical level, will Luis Enrique be able to use this match against Nantes to prepare for that of Dortmund? “They played 4-3-3 against Nice, which could be useful to prepare Dortmund even if the circumstances are different, with a new coach (Gourvennec, Editor’s note). And other teams have a habit of changing systems against us. We therefore don’t really know how they will behave, especially as it could change depending on the result.», indicated the former coach of FC Barcelona at a press conference, insisting on the fact that “The most important feature of this match is that Nantes changed coaches before the previous one. We only have one match to watch, with a 4-3-3, their determination and victory, in an open match. You will have to be very attentive. It’s a match where anything is possible. It’s a difficult match to predict in terms of physicality».
Read alsoPSG: indicted for rape, Hakimi misses training as part of legal proceedings
Test(s) ahead of Dortmund?
Looking mischievous, Luis Enrique in any case did not hide the fact that some of his choices against Nantes could be guided by a logic of testing with a view to Dortmund. “It’s possible», he smiled. With for example Bradley Barcola starting again? Awkward as possible in front of goal against Newcastle (1-1), the former Lyonnais represents one of the options to compensate for the absence of Ousmane Dembélé (suspended) in Dortmund. One thing is certain, the Spaniard is counting on the young (21 year old) French striker, whom he had to replace early in the match in Le Havre due to the exclusion of Gigio Donnarumma. “He is a player of the future for the club. The future is already tomorrow“, he summarizes.
To see if Kylian Mbappé, free at the end of the season, is called upon to represent the future of the club. In the meantime, the present passes through the captain of the Blues, top scorer in L1 with 15 goals. “KM” is more essential than ever. This will be true this Saturday, and even more so on Wednesday. It remains to be seen in what register the old Monegasque will be used. On the left, as often, or in the middle, as in the second half in Reims or on the pitch in Le Havre?
This is a false debate for Luis Enrique. “He plays like last season, he has total freedom in attackinsists the Asturian technician. In defense, he has certain compulsory figures, like all the other players on the team. But in attack, he can be on one wing or another, between the lines or in false 9. Total freedom for Kylian. We compensate for his mobility with the positioning of his teammates. He played the last match, in Le Havre, like all the others.» On the left, in the center or elsewhere, the important thing is that Mbappé scores and/or makes someone score, which he does better than anyone. “I would like to have three Mbappé», smiled “Lucho” recently. There is only one. It’s up to him.
