Luis Enrique said it was “typical” that Paris Saint-Germain only managed to see off newly-promoted Le Mans after his four changes around the hour mark. But it is also worrying and borderline damning. Ligue 1 has felt like a side quest for PSG in recent years.
Not only have the club succeeded in rearranging league games to aid their Champions League campaign, but their stars rarely feature in the domestic league. Ousmane Dembélé started just 12 Ligue 1 games last season, but that didn’t prevent him winning – contentiously – the player of the season award. He was not on the teamsheet on Saturday night when PSG hosted Le Mans, nor was Nuno Mendes.
It’s only mid-October, but it is already clear where PSG’s focus lies. It also informed their summer transfer dealings. PSG spent more than €150m, but none of the players brought in looked likely to dislodge the starters in their position.
They are there to facilitate rest, not to shake up the hierarchy; when they feature you’re likely to hear the words “squad management”. And as the players returned after the extended international break, those two words were very much in vogue. Saturday provided opportunities.
Mika Godts, Maghnes Akliouche and Ferran Torres – who cost a combined €150m – all started. Further back, there were chances for Dro Fernández and Lucas Beraldo in midfield, and Lucas Digne, Lucas Hernández and Illia Zabarnyi at the back. This is their stage; players such as Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Mendes and Vitinha have their own.
However, four of the first string had to be parachuted in against Le Mans. Beraldo had given PSG the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half, but Le Mans posed questions of a defence that cannot really be described as makeshift – weaker, yes, but these are players played by choice, not obligation, and are often fielded on these nights. Louis Mafouta dragged Patrick Videira’s side back into it with a first-time finish from a whipped cross.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
