After a first start that was already particularly scrutinized against Aston Villa in the European Super Cup, Maghnes Akliouche was once again lined up at the forefront of the Parisian attack against RC Lens (1-0). Luis Enrique has therefore confirmed an experience that he seems to want to gradually install in his team, using the former Monegasque in a false nine role rather than in his usual position. For this second appearance in the starting lineup this week, the context was far from obvious. PSG had to deal with a preparation that was still short, several managers spared and an opponent led by a particularly fiery Bollaert. In this context, Akliouche showed a more attractive face than a few days earlier, even if his performance is still far from being completely accomplished.
Very mobile from the first minutes, the neo-Parisian, rated 5.5 by the editorial staff of French Football Weeklydropped out a lot and sought to participate in associations with Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi. His mobility notably allowed PSG to multiply permutations and not have a center forward frozen in the area. He could even have been dangerous in the 8th minute with a first shot that went wide, before being narrowly caught by Nawrocki as he was about to shoot a few minutes later. His match then took a more particular turn in the 39th minute when he suffered a big tackle from Kyllian Antonio, directly receiving a red card. Akliouche was therefore at the heart of several situations, but he still lacked this ability to really turn things around in the final meters. A fairly logical observation for a player still adapting to such a different role.
It will take time for the new recruit
Because that is the particularity of this experience imagined by Luis Enrique. Akliouche is not used as a classic center forward tasked with staying between the centrals and waiting for balls into the box. The Spaniard asks him more to stall, to participate in the game, to attract defenders and to create spaces for the players who arrive launched. On this register, his movements were interesting for a good part of the first half hour. But his influence was gradually reduced, with some less clean ball handling and a physical deficit which sometimes handicapped him in duels. He also poorly negotiated a counter situation in the 13th minute. Its results therefore remain encouraging in idea, but still insufficient in effectiveness. And we must obviously remember that Akliouche has also discovered a new environment since his arrival in Paris, with new partners, new automation and now a new position to assimilate.
Luis Enrique seems in any case to want to give him time to get to grips with this function. The Parisian technician once again renewed his idea against Lens and the player showed enough in his movements and his understanding of the game for the experience to be worth continuing. This does not mean, however, that the native of Tremblay-en-France is already convincing as a false new. His lack of impact in decisive areas remains real and his adaptation could require several weeks, or even more, before his natural qualities fully translate into this role. Replaced in the 60th minute by Ousmane Dembélé, who moved a lot and tried with both feet before missing a huge opportunity alone against Risser, Akliouche therefore leaves a contrasting impression. Luis Enrique confirmed his idea, Akliouche showed more promise, but this new Parisian experience still takes time before becoming a real weapon.
