Luis Enrique loves players who can do it all, and Senny Mayulu is becoming the perfect embodiment of that philosophy at PSG. At only 19 years old, the Parisian titi is gradually establishing himself as one of the Spanish technician’s trusted men thanks to extremely rare versatility at this level. First used as a false number 9 at the start of the season during the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, notably during the Champions League clash against Barça where he made an impression with a decisive goal, the young Frenchman was then moved several times in different roles.
In recent weeks, Luis Enrique has not hesitated to reposition him as right-back in order to preserve Achraf Hakimi, physically affected, but also Warren Zaire-Emery, a major element of the Parisian system. An impressive adaptation which demonstrates the growing confidence of the Spanish coach in his young player. Before facing Lens, Luis Enrique had perfectly summed up the profile of his protégé: “The first thing you have to have at PSG is the engine. You have to be able to be number 9, number 8, number 6, number 2 at the same time… You have to have the engine like Hakimi, Warren… Senny has one too. He has the physical and technical condition to be an important player in the team. I’m happy every time a Titi does a good job. »
A stunning rise in power
And this confidence has continued to be rewarded. During the title match against Lens (0-2), Mayulu once again delivered a very accomplished performance in a role that was far from natural for him. Aligned during the entire match at the right-back position, he impressed both defensively and offensively, regularly coming to settle in the center during phases of possession as requested by Luis Enrique. His activity and reading of the game stood out, to the point of becoming one of the strong men of PSG that evening. A few days earlier, against Brest, he had amazed everyone in this same hybrid role.
The statistics speak for themselves: best player in duels won (9/13), best chance creator with six situations created, best tackler in the match with four successful interventions, 90% of successful passes, eight recoveries and two successful dribbles. An XXL performance which confirms that it is no longer a simple tactical repair, but a real credible option in several sectors of the game. This Sunday against Paris FC, while PSG, already champion, should be largely rotated before the Champions League final against Arsenal, Mayulu should still be established in the right lane. New proof that Luis Enrique is counting heavily on him in this final stretch.
Extremely rare versatility
Because beyond its simple versatility, it is above all its ability to adapt that impresses this season. In detail, Senny Mayulu has already played almost everywhere on the pitch. Defensive midfielder, relay player, number 10, left winger, right winger, false number 9 or even right side: the young Parisian has occupied 9 different positions since the start of the year. Apart from goalkeeper, central defender and left back, he played practically everywhere. A rarity in modern football and a characteristic that inevitably reminds us of… Luis Enrique himself.
During his career, the Asturian was known for his ability to play in several roles with the same intensity, from Real Madrid to FC Barcelona. And today, he seems to see Mayulu as a modern version of this total flexibility. With 40 matches played this season, including 28 starts, 6 goals and 5 assists, the Parisian titi continues to gain ground in the Parisian hierarchy. Luis Enrique had also promised him significant playing time in the spring: “it’s normal not to always play, it depends on the schedule and the injuries. I’m very happy with what he’s putting into the team. He’s an important player, a little guy. It’s a pleasure to have a player with his footballing quality and his mentality. He will have the opportunity to play important matches, he has done so in the past. » A promise now completely kept.
Mayulu is achieving something rare at PSG: establishing himself permanently in the rotation of an ultra-competitive squad by coming from the training center. Apart from Warren Zaire-Emery, few young people trained at the club have managed to gain such credibility so quickly during the Qatari era. His tactical intelligence, his technical quality and his physical volume make him one of the big winners of the Luis Enrique method today. Certainly, he does not yet have a superstar role or indisputable status, but his importance continues to grow in the Parisian squad. And while PSG is now dreaming of a new European coronation against Arsenal, Senny Mayulu could still have his say. Like against Inter last year, where he had already made an impression with his goal, the young Parisian titi could take advantage of the C1 final to continue writing his story with his favorite club… and perhaps enter a little more into the hearts of Parisian supporters.
