After a disappointing first season with a staggering new elimination in the knockout stages of the Champions League (against Manchester United), Thomas Tuchel and Paris Saint-Germain are expected at the turn. First step of this operation reconquest: the beginning of the Ligue 1, Sunday evening at the Parc des Princes against Nimes.
Shine in the Champions League and recover the National Cups
Paris will not only have to shine in Europe, the priority objective, and retain its title of champion of France. But the Parisian club will also have to forget the disappointments of the past season in the Coupe de la Ligue (elimination at home against Guingamp) and the Coupe de France (against Rennes, in the final after a crazy scenario). "We will try to recover the Cups," said striker Kylian Mbappé.
"And then the Champions League, everyone looks at it, we have to go through these stages, we stay a little stuck, it's up to us to find the solution to go further," assured the star of the Blues, top scorer of the championship of France last year and who will be the leader of attack this season.
A large household in the workforce
To cross this glass ceiling in the European Cup, PSG did a great job this summer. Many young people have left, such as Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) or Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), and experienced players have come to fill the ranks of Paris in key positions. The long awaited defensive midfielder has finally arrived, in this case Senegalese Idrissa Gueye, from the English club Everton. Two Spaniards, Pablo Sarabia (Sevilla FC) and Ander Herrera (Manchester United) will densify the midfield, and the young defender Abdou Diallo (Dortmund) will also give more consistency to the Parisian rearguard.
The names are not flashy, but Thomas Tuchel will have more choices to blow his frames and keep the infernal pace of a season to 60 matches. The German coach is certainly expecting a lot of this start of the season: "I want to start as hard as last year (14 wins in a row, ed .) It will be hard to do as well, but we must 'We keep working, we're humble, I think we're ready.'
The new boss is Leonardo
Another major change is the arrival of sports director Leonardo. Now, unlike previous seasons, the Capital Club has a boss and a clear guideline. The leitmotiv of the Brazilian: "the institution" Paris Saint-Germain is above all, even Neymar.
President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo spoke on the subject during the summer, clearly opening the door to the departure of the most expensive player in history (222 million euros). And on this record, it is "Leo" who manages, unloading his coach who can focus only on the athlete.
It may sound crazy, but #Leonardo coming out just before #Tuchel from #Neymar's situation. It's new in Paris. Leo the extra sportsman, the German sportsman. Each his role. Clear and precise net #PSqg. @ # Europe1 Europe1pic.twitter.com / nzwBQfttPI
- Julien Froment (@JulienFroment) August 10, 2019Neymar on the departure, recruits to come?
Everything can happen by September 2, closing date of the transfer window in France. PSG, which agrees to sell Neymar, but on its terms, will recruit in case of departure. In particular a goalkeeper. Alphonse Areola is the new number 1 with the departure of Kevin Trapp in Frankfurt, but "he will deserve his job, show that he can improve and take responsibility," recalled Thomas Tuchel, admitting that the club remained "open "at the arrival of a new porter. A busy and exciting summer that should tell more about the ambitions of PSG for the coming season.