Does PSG have a sufficiently competitive midfield? This is the question asked of Luis Enrique by many observers in recent weeks. After the departure of Marco Verratti, today in Qatar, the capital club does not have exceptional bench depth in this sector. It was enough to see the growing concern at a time when Manuel Ugarte was announced as uncertain for the first shock of the PSG season, opposed this Tuesday evening to Borussia Dortmund as part of the first day of Group F of the Champions League. Finally aligned in the 4-3-3 of the reigning French champions, the Uruguayan however produced a new score without any real false notes. He is not the only one…
Vitinha, symbol of a dominant environment!
If Warren Zaire-Emery has, a little more, proven that he has broad enough shoulders and strong enough backs to play in the big leagues, Vitinha, the third man in the Parisian environment this Tuesday evening, splashed the park Princes of his talent. Floating in a relatively dull first period for the Rouge et Bleu – symbolized by a major lack of offensive realism (only 1 shot on target out of 11 attempts) – the Portuguese quickly put himself up to the level of such a competition. Sharp in the duel, carried forward and author of several breakthroughs against overwhelmed Marsupials, the former Porto player was even close to freeing his team but his clear shot finally ended on Gregor Kobel’s post (19th) . However, nothing to calm the ardor of the native of Santo Tirso.
Valuable in recovery (8 balls recovered, the highest total with Ugarte) and always inspired on the offensive level, Vitinha multiplied the positive sequences. By a well-thought-out pass, by a well-felt shift or by slaloming in the midfield – reminiscent of Marco Verratti’s finest hours – the 23-year-old midfielder dazzled everyone. Logically elected man of the match by UEFA as well as by the FM editorial team and certainly author of his best performance since the start of the season, Vitinha – sometimes in the center, often eccentric on the left at the request of his coach – ended his masterclass with a decisive pass to Achraf Hakimi, also brilliant. Replaced by Lee Kang-In ten minutes from time and warmly acclaimed by the Parc des Princes during his exit, the strong man of the evening did not hide his joy, a few moments after the meeting, at the microphone of Canal +.
An obvious defensive performance, a valuable offensive projection!
“It’s a very important match, we had to start this competition well. We started very well. Me, Hakimi and the whole team played well. Even when we don’t win, we know that the fans are with us, and we are also with them. This is how we will go far. It’s important to start like this. I am very happy”notably assured the Portuguese international (11 caps) before saluting the performance of his teammate Ugarte and thanking his supporters at the microphone of RMC Sport : “It’s a big victory. Concerning Manuel Ugarte, he plays a decisive role, but all the players who played and all the substitutes are important. I think that this season, the thing that will be decisive will be unity, being all together (…) Even when we don’t win, we know that the supporters are with us. And we too are with them. It will be decisive this week because that’s how we can go far. It’s important to start like that”.
Relaunched on the performance of his team at a press conference, Luis Enrique did not hide his satisfaction either. “I liked almost everything, the intensity from the start of the match, the speed and control of the match for 75 minutes. This match reinforces our ideas. We are all happy. It’s an almost perfect evening for me. We focused on playing our match, having the ball and pressing high to recover it quickly. We were very good. They didn’t have the capacity to attack.. “I think we were very good. The individual quality of my teammates is incredible. Finally, I think the match was not only about the team, but also about the atmosphere, the stadium., added Manuel Ugarte, questioned in the mixed zone. One thing is certain, with this midfielder (Ugarte, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha), Luis Enrique can go to sleep peacefully and contemplate more calmly the trip to St James Park, on October 4, to challenge Newcastle. It now remains to be seen whether this trio will be able to repeat these XXL performances and continue without the slightest physical glitch…
