Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe, Marco Asensio. Luis Enrique has learned to cope without these players, with the starting profile, since the start of the season for the first two, and since the beginning of September for the third. The Spanish coach has built a 4-2-4 pattern that is sometimes criticized, with some alternatives (such as 4-3-3 or 3-4-3). One constant, however, is the presence of key elements, such as Warren Zaire-Emery.
You have not escaped it, the 17-year-old midfielder was seriously injured against Gibraltar, and will be absent at least until the winter break. Zaire-Emery had so far started 10 matches out of the 12 played in Ligue 1 (with a start against Clermont), and all of the Champions League matches. Another major element affected, even more recently, is Marquinhos, who is unavailable for the AS Monaco reception, and whose additional examinations upon his return to Paris will determine the duration of his absence.
After the surprise of the first day, where the Brazilian sat on the bench against Lorient to make way for a Danilo-Skriniar hinge, he once again became an essential starter. When the Brazilian does not start, the results do not particularly encourage optimism: a 0-0 draw against Lorient, a 3-2 defeat at the Parc against Nice, and a sluggish 3-2 victory in Brest. Luis Enrique therefore faces two decisive shocks, against AS Monaco on Friday evening, then against Newcastle on Tuesday, with two major changes to make.
A change of system to compensate?
In the hinge, Danilo Pereira presents himself as the preferential alternative to Luis Enrique, even if other solutions exist, despite the absences of Nuno Mendes and Kimpembe. Mukiele can thus help out on the left, as he has already done successfully this season, and Lucas Hernandez can refocus on the full axis. Which would shift Skriniar’s right axis (the Slovakian has played on the left axis mainly this season). The Spanish coach can also switch to 3 at the back, with Hernandez, Skriniar and Marquinhos, for an ultra offensive scheme with Barcola and/or Kang In Lee as a piston, in addition to Hakimi.
The absence of Warren Zaire-Emery appears more detrimental, given the defeat of the young Frenchman, the Parisian who runs the most on the field. Fabian Ruiz is the 3rd most used central midfielder this season (if we consider that Vitinha is used as a left midfielder), and starts with a head start. But he is more of an avoidance player than an impact player, where PSG had sunk in England. One solution would be to move Danilo up a notch, consequently limiting the choices in defense… A hell of a puzzle to solve for Luis Enrique facing two formidable opponents.
