“Okay, okay, don’t worry! When I returned, I trained with the team from day one, without any problems. I have already played two matches with the national team, I played with PSG, everything is fine! I’m back and without the slightest problem”. This is what Milan Škriniar, who arrived from Inter Milan during the summer, declared with confidence. Yes, but now, a few weeks after packing his bags in the City of Lights, the Slovak defender – recently hampered by various injuries – is already raising many questions. Holder during the first five days of Ligue 1, the solid right-hander of 1m88 has, in fact, shown his fragility on numerous sequences. Apotheosis of this vulnerability? His performance on Friday evening against OGC Nice (2-3).
Constantly jostled by the stainless and swift Terem Moffi, number 37 of Paris Saint-Germain thus symbolized, almost alone, the Parisian difficulties. During his team’s first defeat this season, Škriniar stood out in particular for his lack of speed and his relative liveliness. Guilty of a certain defensive laxity on the first two Nice goals, the Slovak international (58 caps, 3 goals) was finally completely cold on the Aiglons’ third goal. Credited with a 3 by the FM editorial team, the former Nerazzurri player then reawakened the first doubts expressed about him. Returning from a long period of injuries, the one who suffered a series of lumbago, back problems and fractured lumbar vertebrae during the 2022-2023 financial year is still far from being unanimous despite his starting status.
A profile opposed to the Parisian project
More than his individual flaws – already well known to Ile-de-France supporters – the ex-Interist is especially worried by his profile. Rough, powerful in the duel and adept at close play, Škriniar does not seem to be in line with the game plan desired by Luis Enrique. Far from the Italian style, compact blocks and tight defenses, the native of Žiar nad Hronom must, today, manage depth, compensate for certain rises from his full-backs. So many tasks requiring his slowness… Therefore, the question of his starting against Borussia Dortmund, Tuesday evening on the occasion of the first day of Group F of the Champions League, arises.
Faced with a revanchist attack, carried by the twirling Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen, should Luis Enrique not opt for a central hinge composed of Marquinhos and Danilo Pereira, beaten on the second Riviera goal but overall very solid during his appearances under the Parisian jersey. One thing is certain, anyone who sees his contract run until June 2028 at PSG is already seeing the noose tightening. With the upcoming return of Presnel Kimpembe and the possibility of seeing Lucas Hernandez evolve in the axis of the Ile-de-France defense, Milan Škriniar will quickly have to prove that he can match his coach’s playing philosophy. In the event of starting against the Marsupials, the Slovak already knows that he will play big, what’s more with a coach who has never hidden his desire to turn…
