Paris Saint-Germain: Full Report Card for Every Position for September
September has been a tough month for Paris Saint-Germain, but they ended it strongly by beating Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League. However, they enter October five points behind Marseille in the league.
The report card for September is quite interesting when compared to the team’s efforts in August. Some players have fallen behind in their performances, some have excelled and Laurent Blanc will be hoping that October will start the way that September ended.
Marking the PSG players on their performances during September will be based on their overall contributions to the team ethic and each player’s individual ability in their given role. It has been a month full of draws and a poor record—by PSG’s standards—away from home.
If it wasn’t for the heroic display against Barcelona, PSG would have finished the month of September with just one victory. They have yet to be beaten, but the team's overall performance during the month was far below the expectations of this club.
The other win was against SM Caen at the Stade Michel d’Ornano, PSG winning the game 2-0 with goals from Lucas Moura and Marquinhos. That victory was meant to put an end to their away-day blues, but three days later, they had to come back from a goal down to steal a point at Toulouse.
September started with three 1-1 draws, the last of which was a disappointing game against Lyon at the Parc des Princes in which PSG looked comfortable at 1-0 up, took their foot off the gas and were subsequently punished by a late Samuel Umtiti goal.
October should see the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, but there are doubts over whether they will actually improve the mentality of the side. It will make for interesting viewing.
Here is PSG’s full report card for September.
Goalkeepers
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Salvatore Sirigu
It has been a strange month for the ever dependable Salvatore Sirigu. He only kept one clean sheet in September, but he was still PSG’s hero at times.
He would have been disappointed to concede the goal against Rennes, which was effectively a pass from Paul-Georges Ntep that took a slight touch off Maxwell before Abdoulaye Doucoure’s run and swing at the ball deceived Sirigu and saw the ball creep under his body.
Against Ajax, he should have done better with Lasse Schone’s equalising free-kick, but he instantly made up for that with a wonderful save to deny the Dane a second and possibly winning goal.
The Italian ‘keeper was sold down the river by Serge Aurier for the opening goal against Toulouse, so you can’t fault Sirigu for that one.
Overall, he has been solid, if not quite at his best, but Blanc will still be thankful for his goalkeeper’s displays.
Grade: B
Nicolas Douchez
The veteran goalkeeper has been on the bench for all of PSG’s games during September, but he hasn’t featured in any of them. Douchez’s time will come during the domestic cup competitions.
Grade: D+
Mike Maignan
No surprise that Mike Maignan hasn’t featured in any of PSG’s games in September. However, he has played three times for PSG II in France’s CFA division, conceding seven goals in 4-1 and 3-0 defeats to Sedan and Amiens AC.
Grade: D-
Right-Backs
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Gregory van der Wiel
September has been a month of shared responsibilities for the PSG right-backs. Blanc has looked to Gregory van der Wiel in the two Champions League games and given the Dutchman a rest in some of the league fixtures to keep him fit and ready.
It was Van der Wiel’s cross that set up the opening goal for Zoumana Camara against Rennes. Against Barcelona, it was his wonderful driven cross that picked out Blaise Matuidi for the third and winning goal at the Parc des Princes.
The 26-year-old right-back is playing some superb football at the moment, and with PSG’s strength in depth, he has the best chance of maintaining his excellent start to the season.
Grade: B+
Serge Aurier
It has been a very mixed month for Serge Aurier. The on-loan right-back started two of PSG’s league games in September, but his performances weren’t at the same level the Ivorian defender showed for Toulouse last season.
Ironically, his worst performance came against his parent club. Aurier’s loose back pass, intended for his goalkeeper, was intercepted by Wissam Ben Yedder, who made no mistake and put Toulouse 1-0 up.
Aurier is still finding his feet in the French capital. There is no doubting his talent, but with Van der Wiel’s impressive performances, it may be a while before he is impressing like he did at Le Tefece.
Grade: C-
Left-Backs
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Maxwell
September is when Maxwell came back into the PSG side and won back his position as their first-choice left-back.
Two starts in the league and two in the games against Ajax and Barcelona showed that the Brazilian defender still has so much to give to this PSG side, despite there being rumours that he might retire at the end of the season, per Globoesporte.com (h/t Samindra Kunti of Sambafoot).
He still has the legs to get forward and support the attack, but he never shirks his defensive responsibilities. Maxwell is the perfect squad player for Blanc and the perfect professional.
Grade: B
Lucas Digne
September saw Lucas Digne fall back into the role of supporting left-back. Maxwell regained his place and featured in the league and Champions League, while Digne had to make do with starts against Toulouse and Lyon.
However, he has taken those chances well. Against Lyon, it was Digne’s beautiful left-foot cross that found the head of Edison Cavani to open the scoring. Actions such as that will remind Laurent Blanc that he can put his faith in the 21-year-old.
Grade: C+
Centre-Backs
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Marquinhos
Marquinhos has been PSG’s best player this season. He may not be the club captain or have cost €50 million, but the 20-year-old Brazilian is the best defender in this squad.
His performances have been nothing less than superb. He had to miss the game against Toulouse due to a knock, and maybe PSG wouldn’t have conceded had he been on the pitch.
Marquinhos’ season was summed up perfectly by the last-ditch block he made against Barcelona in the Champions League. It looked like a certain equaliser, but the defender read the situation and timed his lunge to perfection.
Jordi Alba and the whole Parc des Princes thought it was a certain goal, but Marquinhos had other ideas. It is going to be hard to put him on the bench when Thiago Silva returns from injury.
Grade: A+
David Luiz
The €50 million defender has finally conceded a goal while wearing the PSG shirt. In fact, the Parisians conceded five while David Luiz was playing during September.
Overall, his performances have been good. Still, he was overshadowed by Marquinhos in the league, the disparity in performance levels never more evident than when the younger Brazilian was out against Toulouse and David Luiz played his worst match of the season. It was so bad, he felt he had to come out and declare how unfit he was.
To make matters more bizarre, after declaring he was only 60 per cent fit, he went on to put in an absolutely magnificent performance against Barcelona just days later. He was everywhere against the Catalans, even popping up with the opening goal.
He was a colossus in the air and seemed to be in every position PSG needed him. If this is him at 60 per cent, then perhaps he is worth the huge price tag. Though maybe he was just protecting himself from criticism.
Grade: B-
Zoumana Camara
What an excellent month it has been for Zoumana Camara. Injuries have seen the veteran defender play two full matches, and against Rennes, he got his first goal since May 2011.
The 35-year-old centre-back got on the end of Gregory van der Wiel’s cross and side-footed the ball past Benoit Costil to give PSG a 1-0 lead.
With Thiago Silva coming back from injury, Camara’s minutes will likely reduce again, but he has shown he can be a reliable back-up.
Grade: C
Thiago Silva
PSG’s captain didn’t play a single minute of action during September due to his thigh injury. He should make his return to the team in October. The big question is, who will he replace in the starting lineup?
Grade: D-
Central Midfielders
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Marco Verratti
Outside of Marquinhos, Marco Verratti has been PSG’s best player in September. The diminutive Italian midfielder has been behind most of Parisians' good work through the centre, and his bullish style and high energy play has been a huge benefit to Laurent Blanc’s side.
Verratti has the ability to play the deep-midfield role on his own when PSG are fancied, but he can also adapt, like he did against Barcelona—a game in which he played alongside Thiago Motta and adapted his game to be a little more offensive.
It is a side of his game we would all like to see more of. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck’s goal against Toulouse was a great example of this.
Verratti acted quickly to spot the free-kick and picked out the forward with a wonderful over-the-top pass. He showed great vision, great awareness and then the ability to weight the ball perfectly for the striker to score.
More of the same from Verratti would be very much appreciated by Blanc and his team-mates.
Grade: A-
Thiago Motta
Thiago Motta only played a full 90 minutes in Ligue 1 once during September. He only started two of PSG's four league games as Blanc tried to find the best combination for his midfield.
Motta did, however, play in both Champions League matches, and you get the feeling this is where Blanc needs the Italian midfielder the most. His experience is invaluable, and he showed against Barcelona that he can still play among the best.
His game isn’t really suited to the Ligue 1 games, during which PSG are dominant from the start and need more creativity.
It looks like Motta could be rested for seemingly routine league games and brought for tougher European battles this season.
Grade: B-
Blaise Matuidi
It has been an improved September for Blaise Matuidi. The France World Cup star has made four appearances in the league, two from the start and started against Ajax and Barcelona in the Champions League.
Usually the driving force behind the PSG midfield, it has taken Matuidi a few games to find his stride. In the league this season, PSG have yet to record a victory when 27-year-old is in the starting line-up.
At the Parc des Princes against Barcelona, the midfielder was full of energy in a throwback to his excellent performances last season. He was rewarded for his efforts in the second half, when he made it 3-1 after meeting Van der Wiel’s low cross following a typical gut-busting run.
He is slowly getting back to the level he was at last season, October looks like it will be his month.
Grade: C+
Yohan Cabaye
Yohan Cabaye may have started three league games for PSG during September, but his performances have still been far from what you would expect from the former Lille and Newcastle United midfielder.
Even in the 2-0 win over Caen, the France international looked off the pace.
Then again, against Toulouse, Cabaye looked a shell of his former self. From his performances, you can see that the ability is there, but he just can’t seem to play a commanding role in PSG’s matches.
If this poor form continues, you have to worry about his place in the France national team.
Grade: D-
Clement Chantome
From three minutes in the league during August, Clement Chantome’s minutes increased to 28 this month. He also made a late cameo against Barcelona, so I guess we can call that an improvement.
Grade: D
Adrien Rabiot
No minutes for Adrien Rabiot and no appearances on the bench so far this season.
The 19-year-old did make his first appearance for PSG II against Arras in a goalless draw on September 20, so there may be a return to the first team in October.
Grade: F
Wingers
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Lucas Moura
Playing in two league games and two Champions League games have made for an interesting September for Lucas Moura.
An abject performance against Ajax led to some deserved criticism; the Brazilian failing to deliver in the final third and displaying a lack of a killer instinct in Amsterdam. He followed that up by dancing past two Caen defenders and unleashing an unstoppable shot to put PSG 1-0 up and inspire them to their first away victory of the campaign.
Against Barcelona, he was deadly down the right and gave Jordi Alba a torrid time.
It sums up his season pretty well. The talent and attributes are there, he just needs to find a way to show it on a consistent basis.
Grade: B
Ezequiel Lavezzi
September was meant to be a happier time for Ezequiel Lavezzi, but it couldn’t have gone much worse.
He made a late appearance against Ajax and was awarded his first start of the season in the home match against Lyon. Lavezzi played fairly well during the 1-1 draw.
Then, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic out injured, Lavezzi won his second start of the season away at Caen. Howver, that match didn’t go to plan at all. The winger only lasted 13 minutes before pulling up injured, he had to be replaced and he won’t be returning to first-team action until the end of October.
Players like Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Lucas now have the chance to make more of an impression in the PSG attack. It will be hard for Lavezzi to win his place back in the starting line-up.
Grade: D-
Jean-Christophe Bahebeck
Jean-Christophe Bahebeck enjoyed a wonderful pre-season, but it took a few weeks for the young forward to make his impact on the first team, but he won’t forget September in a hurry.
After the injury to Lavezzi, Bahebeck came on for his first appearance of the league season. He definitely showed enough in that game to suggest that he should be a member of this squad this season.
Given his first start of the season against Toulouse in the proceeding game, the 21-year-old scored his first league goal for PSG.
Include the late appearance against Barcelona, and it has definitely been a month to remember for the French forward.
Grade: C
No.10s
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Javier Pastore
Until the game against Barcelona, Javier Pastore’s performances hadn’t quite lived up to the storming start he made in August.
However, the Argentine playmaker has still played his part in PSG’s small successes this month.
Undoubtedly, his best game was in the 3-2 win over Barcelona. He was everywhere and played a key role in both the offensive and defensive side of the game. Pastore pushed PSG forward when the space became available, but he also tracked back to help the midfield and defence when needed.
PSG need a little more from him next month, and we now need to see that decisive edge to his game. Goals and assists need to become a bigger part of his game if he is to realise his potential at the Parisians.
Grade: B-
Centre-Forwards
8 of 9
Edinson Cavani
Only one goal for Edinson Cavani during the month of September, and it was a fantastic header that put PSG 1-0 up over Lyon at the Parc des Princes.
In front of goal, you have to say that his performances have been lacking. He doesn’t look like the clinical finisher who scored 16 goals in his first season in Ligue 1. With Ibrahimovic out, Cavani has been given the chance to play in his coveted central role, but he hasn’t grabbed that opportunity with both hands.
His overall play has been good, though. Against Caen and Barcelona, he put in exceptionally good performances all over the pitch and worked hard to defend and help his team. His displays were more about the team than the individual in September.
However, PSG bought Cavani for goals, not his work rate. He needs to find a way to combine the two.
Grade: C+
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
After finishing August off in true Zlatan Ibrahimovic fashion, September has not lived up to the Swede’s high expectations.
He has only managed to play in two of PSG’s league games, and he always missed the 3-2 win over Barcelona. Even without the injuries, his performances have been far from impressive so far this season.
Against Rennes, he hit the crossbar with a lovely volley. That effort should have put PSG ahead, but following it he went missing. He hasn’t really shown up since.
Ibrahimovic had a poor game against Lyon, and he was almost invisible in attack. You could even say the attack has flourished without the talismanic striker.
The hope is that he can come back from his heel injury better than ever. PSG are still dependent on Zlatan—he is just that good.
Grade: B-
Coach
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Laurent Blanc
There is a good chance that September has been one of the most bizarre and most stressful months of Laurent Blanc’s tenure as coach of PSG.
The continued problems away from home brought him a lot of criticism. Some of it has been deserved, but a lot of it has to also fall at the feet of the players.
It seems that when the Parisians put in an excellent performance, the players are the first to be rewarded, but when it goes wrong, they don’t get the blame—instead, that lands at the feet of Blanc.
The former France coach still has a lot to learn in management, but he deserves credit for the job he has done with this squad. It is now one of the most pressured jobs in European football, and the victory over Barcelona showed that he can get the most out of this group of players.
Stories surrounding his future were ridiculous, but they are always going to be par for the course at this type of club. The pressure will hopefully have dropped a little following the Barca victory, leaving Blanc and the team free to get on with the rest of the season.
Grade: B
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