Angel Di Maria Showing He Can Be PSG's Champions League Difference-Maker
Paris Saint-Germain have been enjoying a good few days after thrashing last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Olympique Lyonnais 5-1 in Le Championnat on Sunday and then disposing of OL’s Rhone-Alpes rivals AS Saint-Etienne 1-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue round of 16 on Wednesday.
Key in both of the French champions’ recent successes at Parc des Princes has been summer signing Angel Di Maria.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
The Argentina international provided an impressive three assists for PSG in the mauling of Lyon, setting up Serge Aurier, Edinson Cavani and Lucas Moura before creating the only goal of the game against Saint-Etienne for the Uruguay international.
El Fideo’s whipped delivery from a free-kick for Aurier’s bullet header, killer pass to play Lucas in against Lyon and sublime lofted pass over the top of the Saint-Etienne defence to set Cavani up on Wednesday were particularly impressive.
Speaking with PSG's official website after Sunday’s rout of Lyon, Di Maria revealed his delight at playing the role of provider and how assists make him happier than scoring goals.
"I'm very happy. We produced a great performance against a very strong rival," he said. "Personally I had the chance to help the team with several assists and that makes me even happier than scoring myself."
Since returning to domestic duty following the November international break, Di Maria has scored two goals and laid on another seven from seven appearances across all competitions.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man’s two goals came in the 5-0 win away at Malmo FF in the UEFA Champions League late last month. After that, he added two assists in the 4-1 home win over ESTAC Troyes, another in the 3-0 win away at OGC Nice and the three against Lyon before Wednesday’s latest against Saint-Etienne.
In total so far this season, Di Maria now has seven goals and 11 assists from 20 appearances across all competitions.
After taking some time to warm up after a slow start to life in Paris, in part down to a lack of pre-season because of an injury picked up during Copa America over the summer, the PSG No. 11 is now flourishing in the French capital.
Positioned largely wide on the right, Di Maria is starting to prove decisive for Laurent Blanc’s men in more and more games.
Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also in form in Les Parisiens’ front three, but Cavani—scorer of the only goal of the game against Saint-Etienne on Wednesday—has struggled to make that attacking unit fully functional.
Many of Di Maria’s assists have been for El Matador to score—more than Ibrahimovic—but the Uruguayan is still struggling to be as consistent as the Swede in front of goal.
What is perhaps most interesting about Di Maria’s recent run of assists is that many of them—including all three against Lyon—have come from the left side of the pitch and the area that the Argentinian was expected to inhabit when he first arrived.
At the moment, it is Cavani who occupies a loose left-sided role in Blanc’s starting XI.
However, perhaps the best way for the French tactician to remedy the remaining niggles in his attack is to put Di Maria on that left side, where he is more comfortable and arguably most productive.
Cavani could switch to the right, although it is likely that his struggles would continue there as he vies for opportunities to score in the middle with Ibrahimovic. Lucas could also start there to give PSG more of a natural right-sided presence.
With the Ligue 1 leaders’ Champions League last-16 opponents now known to be Chelsea, Blanc needs to work on this issue over the next few months.
The 50-year-old needs to find a way to keep Di Maria as creative and decisive as he is at present—the same with Ibrahimovic—but he needs to get more out of Cavani or find a system that can get the best out of all three without the need for them to all be on the pitch at the same time.
Either way, Di Maria is already proving he can be the difference-maker for PSG on all fronts. The Chelsea doubleheader in February and March of next year will be the perfect opportunity to emphasise that.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
