PSG’s Major Concern (and the Prodigy’s Challenge)
The PSG-Barça Preview Live, French Team’s Training
Borussia Dortmund – PSG: Warren Zaïre-Emery’s Goal
Mbappé and Luis Enrique Breathe Thanks to Zaïre-Emery’s Goal / Telefónica
It’s Luis Enrique’s big dilemma. The absence of Achraf, the third-most-used player by Luis Enrique this season (2,733 minutes), forces the coach to seek imaginative solutions. Without the Moroccan international, France points to two possibilities: converting Marquinhos into the right-back or deploying Zaïre-Emery. The Frenchman is PSG’s breakout talent since Mbappé, and like all great prodigies (he debuted at 16 in Ligue 1), his management is a recurring debate at PSG.
At just 18 years old, much like Lamine and Cubarsí at Barça, there’s concern about striking a balance between his physical development and his playing time. This season, he’s dealt with muscle discomfort and ankle issues, but they haven’t stopped him from becoming one of the most-used players this season.
Against Barça, he’s likely to play as a right-back, a move not surprising in France as he’s becoming a versatile option for Luis Enrique. “I’ve never seen a player so intelligent at compensating for what his teammates do. For me, as a coach, that’s priceless,” said the Asturian about him.
Zaïre-Emery: “We would like Mbappé to stay at PSG”
Zaïre-Emery didn’t hide his wish for Mbappé to remain in Ligue 1 / Perform
A Privileged Physique
Zaïre-Emery has always stood out for having a physique beyond his age. These characteristics helped him quickly adapt to elite football and face opponents much older than him. But recently, there have been murmurs in France about a slight downturn in his form.
In this regard, two factors are highlighted. Firstly, it’s noted that he’s finding it harder to cope with the intensity of matches. This view is shared by the French outlet ‘L’ Équipe’, which cites several March games (against Marseille, Rennes, and Germany with the national team (0-2, March 23)) as examples.
The French newspaper also highlights a decrease in his recovery statistics, although the coaching staff believes it’s normal for his performance to fluctuate at his age. Another point of discussion is how positional changes in his game are affecting him.
If he indeed plays as the right-back against Barça, he’ll face a formidable left flank from Barça that will demand a lot from him. All signs indicate that Xavi will persist with Cancelo and Raphinha. When Barça has possession, the Portuguese functions as a winger, while the Brazilian will operate more centrally but also on the left side of the attack.
It’s a significant challenge for Zaïre-Emery, who will face a stern examination on a big night in Europe. In Paris, in the Champions League quarter-finals, and against Barça.
