Could Moving David Luiz into Midfield Be PSG's Solution to Defensive Headache?

Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 win over Stade Malherbe Caen at the Stade Michel d’Ornano on Wednesday relieved some of the pressure currently on coach Laurent Blanc. Without a win in four away matches in all competitions prior to kick-off, the French champions badly needed an improved performance and a victory after last Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Olympique Lyonnais.

They got it in Lower Normandy.

Brazilian pair Lucas Moura and Marquinhos scored PSG’s goals, and an excellent display from Javier Pastore helped the capital club to secure the three points. Salvatore Sirigu made a number of superb saves to keep Caen at bay, but Blanc’s men held on for a first clean sheet in four games.

Le President told the press after the final whistle, per Ligue1.com:

"

This result is very reassuring. There are still points to discuss concerning our performance, but in our situation, the most important thing was to get the three points, as it has been since the beginning of the season. Paris Saint-Germain hadn't been able to win on the road, and now we've done it. We're going through a delicate phase, but we've spoken a lot with the players. Lots of clubs have periods like this one, moments where you have to knuckle down. It's a tough time, and we need to dig deep. The lads weren't brilliant tonight but they fought hard to pose problems for a Caen side who also put us in some tough situations.

"

Blanc may be relieved that one headache is gradually receding after his side climbed to second in the Ligue 1 table—three points behind bitter rivals and early-season pace-setters Olympique de Marseille—but the Caen match also provided him with confirmation that another is quickly forming.

David Vincent/Associated Press

Although Lucas’ sensational opening goal was grabbing the headlines come the end of the game, PSG’s second goalscorer Marquinhos has quietly established himself as an indispensable member of Blanc’s starting XI. The 20-year-old has seized his chance to replace captain and fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva with both hands and has arguably been the standout star for Les Parisiens so far this season.

If there was any doubt pre-match that Marquinhos is still not ready to be a regular starter for PSG, those reservations were blown away by a mature and authoritative performance from the capital club’s No. 5.

"

Without any bias, Marquinhos is a top candidate for PSG's player of the season so far. Top 3 in the worst cases.

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) September 24, 2014"

The short debate over whether or not Blanc would dare to drop the in-form youngster in favour of Silva for next week’s visit of Barcelona for UEFA Champions League was ended by the news broken by Le Parisien (h/t Get French Football News) that the latter is now unlikely to be fit for the clash against the Spaniards.

Although that issue will not be causing the French tactician too many sleepless nights for at least the next week or so, it will eventually rear its head again when Silva does finally make his comeback. By then, Blanc needs to have come up with a way to somehow accommodate his captain, Marquinhos and David Luiz in the same team.

David Vincent/Associated Press

Thiago Motta might have provided that answer during the Caen clash.

Since the start of the season, the Italian international has simply not looked the same player that he was last season. Whether it is fatigue, or simply the sands of time taking their inevitable toll, the 32-year-old has looked even older on the pitch since the start of the campaign.

On Wednesday, against Caen, the PSG No. 8 was invisible. Yohan Cabaye stood out alongside him and the Azzurri man looked a shadow of the metronomic force that he was last season.

Kin Cheung/Associated Press

Motta, in his current form, is holding the Ligue 1 titleholders back.

One option available to Blanc, if he wishes to experiment with it once Silva has returned to the fold, is deploying Luiz in Motta’s position and going with a central defensive pairing of Marquinhos and Silva. On paper, that duo looks a formidable one, and it would also ease the pressure of responsibility put on Luiz—despite some excellent early-season performances—after his FIFA World Cup meltdown this summer.

Silva has the ability to bring the best out of Luiz, and together, they will form a strong pair. However, Marquinhos cannot be left out in his current form either, with all three central defensive options commanding first-team football.

Trying Luiz in Motta’s defensive midfield role might be the best solution until another injury strikes, one of the three gets suspended or somebody loses some form.

Luiz might not possess the same technical finesse as the Italian, but he would provide much more energy and dynamism to the midfield, something that has been lacking since the start of the season. Crucially, he is also familiar with the position from his time at Chelsea.

David Vincent/Associated Press

There are, of course, other candidates to fill Motta’s role.

Compatriot Marco Verratti is capable of playing there but is arguably better suited to one of the more advanced roles ahead of the deep-lying berth. Cabaye, who looked much improved in the Caen victory after a disappointing performance in the draw with Lyon, is also adept at playing there with the French national team. Blaise Matuidi also has the all-round ability necessary to function effectively in that position.

However, keeping Motta in his current role—despite his loss of form—or playing another one of his midfield options there will not save Blanc from this impending headache. Silva, Luiz and Marquinhos will all want first-team football, and they also now command it.

If one is clearly made third choice, PSG face a potential departure. If this summer was anything to go by, the queue for Marquinhos’ signature will be even longer in January or next summer.

Switching Luiz to the familiar role of defensive midfield might be his best way to defuse a potentially problematic future issue.