Rating PSG's French Players on Their Performances This Season
When QSI arrived in France, one of their aims, as well as to turn Paris Saint-Germain into a European powerhouse, was to keep—or improve—their French identity.
When you look at the starting XI, with Thiago Silva as captain, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta patrolling the midfield and a front three of Lucas Moura, Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani, it would be easy to think they had slipped away from the original plan.
In the last France squad, Didier Deschamps picked four PSG-based players for the games against the Netherlands and Belarus. Add in one of their summer signings and a young midfield pretender and PSG’s home spine looks intact. But how are they performing this season? Let’s take a look:
Alphonse Areola
Patience has paid off for the 23-year-old shot-stopper, and it now looks like the former Bastia and Lens loanee has won the No. 1 jersey at the club.
After Kevin Trapp began the season as the club’s starting goalkeeper, Areola, since the UEFA Champions League fixture with Arsenal, has been consistently picked between the posts by Unai Emery.
Known for pulling out the odd spectacular save, he was instrumental in the win in Bulgaria against Ludogorets. While he may not have had anything to do against Marseille, you feel secure, almost comforted, knowing that when something does happen, Areola will be there to save the day.
Grade: B+ — Very promising
Blaise Matuidi
After a busy summer at Euro 2016 and a possible move to Juventus on deadline day, Matuidi took a few weeks to find his feet in the capital. It took him until Week 4 to start a game, and he has still found himself on the bench now and again. In the Champions League, however, he showed his importance.
Starting as a left-winger against Arsenal, he managed to add protection and attacking threat, showing Emery just how important a player he could be, regardless of the system or philosophy.
His goal against Ludogorets was vital in their 3-1 away win; it came when they were struggling and showed his ability to step up when needed.
Rumours will come around again, now at the age of 29, and there will be a decision to be made if they want to sell. But until they replace him, he will always play an integral role in this squad.
Grade: C+ — A core player
Adrien Rabiot
After an impressive showing last term, Rabiot may have believed he had risen in the pecking order. Spending £34 million on Grzegorz Krychowiak would have had the youngster doubting himself.
Yet it’s been the young pretender who has shown up when given the chance. Perhaps PSG’s best midfielder on his performances, he really should be first choice, but Emery keeps leaning towards the trusted trio of Matuidi, Verratti and Motta, however ill-advised that is.
Possessing a lovely left foot, great passing range and the ability to push the team forward, Rabiot is exactly the type of player PSG need more of in the midfield.
Grade: B+ — More to come
Presnel Kimpembe
After the injury to Silva and the transfer of David Luiz, Kimpembe was handed his chance and he took it with two hands, ran with it and then cleared it to safety.
Able to fill in at left-back, too, he has shown maturity beyond his years when on the pitch. The problems have come while off it.
A call-up to the France national team by Deschamps—perhaps more due to convenience rather than his actual performances—has led his entourage, or the player, to demand a huge pay increase.
He reportedly wants the same deal as Rabiot—supposed to be around €250,000 a month. PSG offered €100,000, as reported by ESPN FC’s Jonathan Johnson, which he is believed to have turned down. When you are currently on €8,000 a week, that sort of money is not to be sniffed at. The continued discussions led to his exclusion from the first team.
Walk before you can run, young Kimpembe.
On-field: Grade: B — Great potential
Off-field: Grade: D — Too much, too soon
Layvin Kurzawa
The French left-back started like a train, with two goals in his first two games, but has fallen away of late. Also impressive for Les Bleus, he has shown just what he is capable of but needs to show it on a consistent basis.
Injuries haven’t helped, but you can see in PSG’s play that they need Kurzawa bombing down the left flank. He has only started once since Week 4, which has impacted both him and the club.
Maxwell is a more-than-able replacement, but the Brazilian veteran certainly doesn’t offer the same attacking threat.
Grade: C- — Needs to find fitness
Hatem Ben Arfa
It would be fitting that in the current period Hatem Ben Arfa goes out for Halloween as a ghost.
He was in the squad for pre-season and famously dropped for a number of games before returning for the match against Bordeaux.
"Ben Arfa Vs OM #PSG pic.twitter.com/aAHUZF3lKp
— Paris No Limit™ (@ParisNoLimit) October 26, 2016"
However, he has still only played 189 minutes for the PSG first team—playing no more than 14 minutes off the bench in his last three appearances.
He’s not really had the time or the opportunities to impact the game, and that amazing season for Nice seems like a distant memory. Another disappointing chapter in the almost unbelievable Ben Arfa story.
Grade: D — Enigma
Jean-Kevin Augustin
The forward probably should have gone on loan this summer, but his determination and drive to succeed at the Parisian club should be commended.
With Jese Rodriguez failing to find his feet and the up-and-down nature of Cavani’s performances—regardless of goals—Augustin should find more minutes, but Emery still doesn’t look too impressed by the young forward.
Augustin has made four appearances off the bench. No surprise that in the game he played 30 minutes, he got a goal and an assist against SM Caen.
After winning the Under-19 European Championships this summer, his lack of playing time must have brought him back down to earth.
Grade: C — Needs more time on the pitch
Christopher Nkunku
The young midfielder impressed at the end of last season and even more so as the PSG Under-19s made it to the final of the UEFA Youth League. But with so much competition in the first team, he’s not played a single minute this term and will likely go on loan in January.
Grade: U — Needs to go out on loan
With Areola, Matuidi and Rabiot, PSG have the beginnings of a home-based spine. It would be great to see others involved, especially Augustin.
Emery needs to put more trust in his young local players. That could be the secret to his long-term success.
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