Neymar's return to the starting line-up will make PSG's play on the flanks change significantly both in defense and attack. That raises questions about the role of Danilo Pereira and how will the Parc des Princes team play against Real?
Neymar back to the left corridor
Danilo is still not an indispensable link of PSG. The technical limitations and speed of the Portuguese player make him unable to win an official position in the multi-star squad of coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, in the last few weeks, Poche and his associates have given Danilo a new task: "virtual right-winger" to ensure the balance in PSG's play. And the Portuguese midfielder has completed the "golden" role quite well, especially in the 1-0 victory over Real in the first leg of the 1/8 round of the Champions League 2021/22.
However, the return of Neymar will reduce the balance of PSG and limit the chances of Danilo playing, a very good eye of Pochettino in the past month. It should be recalled when Neymar was injured, PSG kicked with the attacking trio Kylian Mbappe - Lionel Messi - Angel di Maria. In many situations, Di Maria stepped back to kick the right midfielder and Danilo stepped down to kick as a right-back, helping the defense of the Park of Princes team have an extra layer of protection, becoming solid. and much safer. We can see that when the aforementioned tactics of PSG countered Real very well in the first leg. Danilo has controlled the fuses on the left flank of the Spanish Royal team, especially Vinicius Jr.
But when Neymar returns and plays in the left-wing midfield, PSG need an extremely mobile and equally technical right midfielder to make the symmetry. This role is not suitable for Danilo. It is likely that Pochettino will not be able to use Danilo anymore when there is a Brazilian star, in the second leg against Real. That poses a difficult problem for Poche in finding a solution to ensure the balance between attack and defense. We can go back to the last 20 minutes against Real to see the difference when Neymar came on for Di Maria. At that time, without the ball, PSG's defense block was much weaker and the right wing was very open, making it easy for Real to attack the home side of the Parc des Princes.
Who will kick the right wing behind Messi?
And the elimination of Danilo after finding the "golden" role of the Portuguese player in the win against Real is a big disadvantage for PSG. So how to ensure the role previously assigned to Danilo? In the last 4/5 matches of the French capital team, Danilo is one of the indirect keys to creating flexibility and mobility for PSG. His position of "virtual right midfield" makes the opponent lose control of the PSG midfield: he often retreats to the right of the central defenders most of the time with two main purposes: to cover the right flank and to give permission must be raised; leave the inner corridor (between the right wing and the midfield) for Messi, who often crosses up in that area.
In other words, the player who plays on the right wing of PSG when Neymar returns must ensure the role of Di Maria's attacking support and the "relay" role in Danilo's right wing cover. That is, Neymar will kick the left wing, above is the Mbappe-Messi duo; But does PSG have a midfielder capable of taking on the role of the third central defender to hold the ball and filter the right wing when the opponent is up to attack? In theory, Georginio Wijnaldum is the solution. But the Dutch midfielder is in a decline in form and has many difficulties when retreating to support the defense, exploiting the defenders.
So what about Idrissa Gueye? Although he tends to leave his position in some situations, changing the structure of the tactical map, but the Senegal midfielder is the brightest choice to play in the right midfield position in the 4-4 formation. -2. Speed, technique and flexible movement will be able to help Poche and his associates temporarily solve the role of Danilo's virtual right midfielder but still support the attack when Neymar returns.
Will PSG play with the attacking quartet?
This is an option that cannot be ignored. If it is too difficult to choose who plays on the right, Poche can still use a 4-2-4 formation with the attacking quartet Neymar-Mbappe-Messi-Di Maria. However, at that time, it forced the full-backs (Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes) to often rise to take on the role of an auxiliary midfielder. But now, Poche must be wary of the time spent defending on the two sides of the Neymar-Di Maria duo (which has decreased with age).
Mauricio Pochettino should use a three-man midfield scheme?
It can be said that when Neymar returns, coach Mauricio Pochettino can completely let PSG play with a 3-4-3 formation with central defenders Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos and Thilo Kehrer. The German player recently played quite well when he was pulled into the right-back instead of the right-back. The use of an additional midfielder capable of drifting will be a good solution. When in possession, that allows Marquinhos' right side to be secured and frees the Hakimi-Mendes. Without the ball, it helped PSG return to a 4-4-2 formation with Hakimi taking on the role of a midfielder.
“Many people think that Poche can pull Mbappe down to the right midfield. But this was a waste, because then PSG's attack could not take advantage of Mbappe's speed and technique. Moreover, this player's ability to support the defense is not good," commented L'Equipe.
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