Why Edinson Cavani Is the PSG Player with Most on Line After International Break
It has been a tough couple of weeks for Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani. The Uruguay international followed up a poor display in the 1-0 defeat away at Real Madrid in Group A of the UEFA Champions League last Tuesday with an ineffectual showing in the 5-0 rout of Toulouse in Ligue 1 four days later.
Cavani was rested for the 1-0 win away at Stade Rennais before the French champions’ trip to Spain, but that brief break did El Matador no good. He missed good chances in both matches, notably a one-on-one opportunity at the Santiago Bernabeu on the stroke of half-time, and he was deservedly criticised for his pair of inefficient performances.
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Before he was handed a breather for the trip to Rennes, Cavani had scored one and assisted another as PSG thumped AS Saint-Etienne 4-1 at Parc des Princes. However, even at that point, Laurent Blanc was believed to have been ready to bench his No. 9.
In fact, the thing that probably saved Cavani from the bench for the visit of Les Verts was the fact that Javier Pastore came down with conjunctivitis on the morning of the game. Before that, it was the Argentina international who had been expected to start as part of the front three, not the Uruguayan.
Considering Cavani’s recent poor displays and Lucas Moura’s string of impressive showings lately, there is a strong case for Blanc to drop the former SSC Napoli man and select the Brazil international instead.
Beginning with the away match at FC Lorient once the international break is over, the Selecao star deserves a chance to start alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria after scoring two goals and providing another two in his last four outings.
Cavani, meanwhile, should be left to reflect on his recent profligacy in front of goal. The 28-year-old was better in the win over Toulouse than he was in the Real defeat, but he still missed good chances to score—or at least hit the target—and was visibly frustrated when substituted last weekend.
The international break arrives at a good time for Cavani. Perhaps the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Ecuador and Chile—without Barcelona’s Luis Suarez to play second fiddle to—will help to rebuild his confidence.
However, regardless of whether or not he rediscovers some of his more prolific form while with La Celeste, Blanc must sit him out for at least the trip to Lorient.
PSG’s front three, while irresistible on paper, has not yet completely clicked in reality.
Di Maria has looked better since his poor showing in the goalless draw at home against Real Madrid last month, while Ibrahimovic continues to find the back of net—even if he is still yet to reach his best level.
Cavani has been the most disappointing of the three and the least reliable. Although Lucas was also struggling for form until recently, the Brazilian has now started to pick up the pace.
It would be foolish of Blanc not to hand the PSG No. 7 the chance to build on his improved run of performances with a start in Lorient.
Cavani has just two goals—but also two assists—in his last six appearances. He needs to be doing better and should be the first to admit that. But perhaps he needs the reality check that some time on the bench would provide in order to get back to the stunning form we saw from him late last season.
With Cavani clearly contributing less than Ibrahimovic and Di Maria at present and Lucas now pushing to take his starting role, El Matador has more on the line when PSG get back to domestic duty than any of his teammates.
