• Objective 2022.New stadium and Mbappé as star
  • Zidane. "I'm in love with Mbappé a long time ago"
  • The threat of PSG. "They have Ramos and we have Neymar and Mbappé"
  • Classification Group A

This year, yes. The PSG marches steadily in the Champions League, a dream in which Qatar has invested so much money. In Ligue they send, but less than other years. On the eve of the duel at the Bernabéu, two former Real Madrid players, Keylor Navas and Di María , support a team in which their figures, Neymar and Mbappé , have appeared with droppers.

What has changed this season so that the eleven that Tuchel trains looks like a more serious team, less divodependent , able to win playing badly, a Champions team, in short? To start the signings. Forced to spend less money for the Financial Fair Play, Leonardo , on his return to the club as sports director has shown his good eye. Of the nine reinforcements, three arrived free (among them, United Herrera ) and two ceded ( Icardi and Sergio Rico ). Keylor Navas cost 15 million and the others ( Diallo , Sarabia and Gueye ) around 30 'kilos' per head.

Not all are habitual but three are decisive. Navas has closed the debate in the goal. At 32, he has shown that he has a place in an aspiring team in Europe. His stops are responsible for the PSG not having conceded any goal in four Champions League victories. When the Bruges went to the Parisian medulla in the Parc des Princes, Keylor appeared. Two paradones and one penalty rejected. They made him the best in the team.

A powerful field center

Idrissa Gueye, 29, arrived from Everton in exchange for 32 million, was the decisive factor in the inaugural victory (3-0) against Real Madrid. The Senegalese international did not play in the Champions League since 2012 (with Lille) but showed trade. "A machine," said Tuchel. A ball retriever. A worker in a team of 'vedettes'. With Marquinhos , who has left the center of the defensive cave to settle in the core, and Verratti (or Draxler if this is missing) form a serious and powerful center of the field.

That core, a consolidated defense with Bernat , owner of the left wing, and Keylor under sticks form a block of guarantees. But now comes the best. Front. They make goals like churros. Ten in four European duels; 30 in 14 domestic matches. With Di Maria as sweet. The former Madrid player is at 31 years old the most used player by Tuchel. He has played everything, literally. He has 9 goals and 8 assists. Untouchable.

Di María has found in his countryman Icardi , assigned by Inter, an excellent companion of barbecues (in private life) and goals (on the Parisian pasture). Fled with the noise of Milan, life in Paris seems to smile at Icardi, which makes one of every 17 balls he plays a goal. He has 10 in 11 games. A hunter from the area who seems destined to retire Cavani , the 'Matador', much loved by the stands. Goals are good reasons.

Two that are (Di Maria and Icardi) and two that are but are less ( Neymar and Mbappé ) for three positions. For the first time, all the strikers are available and Tuchel is going to have to disappoint some of his pupils ... unless he changes the script. But why change that 4-3-3 that works for you?

Neymar, questioned

Neymar was the worst for 'L'Equipe' in the victory (2-0) against Lille. After the summer soap opera, he started covering mouths with four goals in five league games. Then he got injured. And so six weeks passed. On Friday nothing came out. Replaced at game time, he went to the shower without further ado.

The Brazilian is not fit but keeps talking. On Tuesday, after training, he went to Madrid to see the Davis of his friend Piqué . He returned on Wednesday, in time for training. "What do you want me to do? I'm neither his dad nor the police. He trained well on Wednesday but I didn't like that trip as a coach," Tuchel said. Many goals and evenings of glory will have to add Neymar to recover his credit in Paris.

On Friday, the one who stayed on the bench was Mbappé, fat during the week. He added nothing in the final half hour of a game that the chronicles were already written about. It was the worst against Bruges, "Lack of lucidity and spontaneity, lack of efficiency, especially," said 'L'Equipe'. Anybody has a bad night but it shows a lot in a star like Mbappé: seven goals in the four European matches in two of which started from the bench. Will Tuchel again leave the starting eleven?

Will you accept who at 20 years is the undisputed figure of the PSG? With Madrid on the prowl, Mbappé is called to be the protagonist of next summer. Good because he will change teams, well because his wishes will come true: the boy, after being world champion with the national team, wants to win the Eurocup and the gold medal of the Tokyo Games. In theory nothing prevents it: the Games start on July 22, ten after the final of the European Championship. Of course, going to Tokyo means missing the first month of next season, especially if you reach the final. Would the PSG allow it? The franchise player has already claimed the status (and salary) of Neymar. But all this, money and individual freedom, happens to win or almost the Champions League. A dream that this year seems possible. At least in autumn.

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