Last summer, Paris Saint-Germain said goodbye to Kylian Mbappé (25 years old). The Frenchman was the last superstar to reside in the French capital, after the departures of Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi in 2023. But KM9 went to live his dream at Real Madrid. During this time, many wondered how the residents of the Parc des Princes were going to replace their best player, who is also a real goose that lays the golden eggs when it comes to marketing. Several big names, including Victor Osimhen, have been announced. But none of them signed with the French champions. Champions who want to rely on a collective and young talents in the making. Despite everything, Paris must also rely on leaders.
And one player pulled off this costume perfectly. This is Achraf Hakimi. Very friendly with Mbappé, the Moroccan has been present at PSG since 2021. Essential at the right-back position, he quickly gained weight on the pitch and in the locker room. But this season, his responsibilities are even more important, he who is vice-captain and one of the oldest members of the Parisian squad. And the Lion of the Atlas does not shy away. On the contrary, he is in good form and strings together high-level performances. This season, he took part in 18 matches in all competitions. Time to score 3 goals and deliver 6 assists. Just that!
Boss Hakimi
Last night, he was also a decisive passer on two occasions, on the goals of Gonçalo Ramos and Désiré Doué against Salzburg during the 6th day of the Champions League (3-0 victory). But the Moroccan could have inflated his statistics if his teammates had been a little more precise. Whatever the case, he was once again valuable for his team, he who multiplied the climbs and dangerous actions while being impeccable defensively. A masterclass from the 26-year-old, who was voted man of the match by the FM Editorial with a rating of 8.5. The French sports press is more or less on the same wavelength since The Parisian gave him a 7, specifying that he “kept its place in the Champions League”.
Same note for The Teamwho despite everything mentioned his waste (29 lost balloons). For his part, France Info got fired up for the defender. “In Paris, the new boss is called Achraf Hakimi. Doubly decisive against Salzburg on Tuesday, the Moroccan defender confirms his growing importance within a Parisian team in reconstruction. Le Figaro also knelt before him. “The most regular player at PSG for several weeks, Achraf Hakimi did not miss his meeting in Austria. Goldsmith’s work carried out at high speed.” The entire press is therefore won over by Achraf Hakimi and more widely by the two Parisian full-backs, since Nuno Mendes, author of a nice goal (72nd) was also praised.
Nuno Mendes congratulated by Lucho
The 22-year-old Portuguese, who came out injured and got a 7 from the FM Editorialwas solid behind while proving decisive up front. After the match, Luis Enrique congratulated him. “For his physical and technical qualities, because he is a player who has two profiles: he can play in defense or complete the attacking trio. He has the capabilities. Today, considering the state of the other players, Nuno brings a lot in attack, whether in terms of assists or actions such as the goals he scored. He provides the team with alternative solutions depending on the state of the other players. We always seek to play on this and create the best possible synergies, those that recur most frequently.”
He added: “this is why Nuno plays higher. When we see that other players are lighter, we have this possibility of interchanging them. And I think that’s a good thing for us.” But he also indirectly congratulated Hakimi, when he mentioned the third goal in which he was involved. “The third goal is a work of art, a demonstration of how to get rid of an opponent’s high pressure, with few touches of the ball, with players who occupy the spaces well to create situations of numerical superiority. The third goal is a true work of art and that’s why we celebrate it this way.” With an Achraf Hakimi-Nuno Mendes duo on fire, PSG can dream a little bigger.
