PSG's Squad Depth Limited by Serge Aurier Controversy and Ezequiel Lavezzi Exit
There were two notable absentees from the Paris Saint-Germain squad that beat Chelsea 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
One was right-back Serge Aurier, and the other was attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi, although both were missing for drastically different reasons.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
The Ivory Coast international was not included in Laurent Blanc’s group because of an inexplicable Periscope session he held on Feb. 13, just hours after a 0-0 draw at home to Lille OSC. In it, the 23-year-old criticised Le President and a number of his PSG teammates, leaving the capital club little option but to indefinitely suspend him.
The former Toulouse man is expected to learn his fate at a meeting with Les Parisiens’ hierarchy next Monday; until then, he can have no contact with the rest of the squad and is not even allowed to train at the club’s facilities.
Blanc was staunch in his position on the African star when he addressed the incident in his press conference ahead of the Chelsea clash, as reported by Omnisport (h/t beIN Sports USA):
"I will not be using the media to sort out a problem between Serge Aurier and myself. This is how he repays me. It is pathetic. He has punished himself and the club. He'll suffer the consequences.
How can I react? Very badly. In our country we can have our own opinions but, that guy, two years ago I committed myself to bring him to Paris. What I saw yesterday was all the thank-you I got.
"
While Aurier was in hot water because of his latest social media outburst, Lavezzi was busy putting the finishing touches on an agreement to sign for Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune.
As reported by ESPN FC, the Argentina international’s move was made official by the Asian club the morning after PSG’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the French capital.
Lavezzi has definitely played his last game for the runaway Ligue 1 leaders, but Aurier's future remains to be seen. The French capital outfit could choose to terminate his contract because of the severity of his comments made against members of his own team and his coach.
However, it is highly likely that another European side would pick him up on a free transfer if PSG did release him, so an eventual sale seems more likely.
It is not set in stone that Aurier will leave Parc des Princes this summer, though. Another option is for Les Parisiens to fine him heavily and punish him by banishing him from the first team for the remainder of the season.
Aurier’s future depends on Blanc and his teammates' ability to forgive him for last weekend’s ill-advised Periscope appearance, and neither of those things are guaranteed.
The loss of both the Ivorian and Lavezzi for the foreseeable future puts the French tactician in a difficult situation.
Having seen his squad recover more or less to full strength just before the Lille stalemate, Aurier and El Pocho have now taken away two options from the 50-year-old, and his choices are more limited once again.
Blanc is probably not too bothered by Lavezzi’s unavailability, as an exit has been on the cards for the former SSC Napoli man for some time. However, Aurier’s unnecessary absence will irritate him.
With the PSG No. 19 unlikely to feature again this season, if ever, Les Parisiens’ tactical chief will need to rely on Gregory van der Wiel and Marquinhos for most of the remainder of the campaign. The Dutchman has only just recovered from an appendix operation, while the Brazil international is not a natural fit at right-back.
Aurier had worked his way into a position where he was comfortably first-choice for the role ahead of both players, but his fall from grace means that his starting berth will be open to the other two.
Assuming that PSG continue to push on across all fronts, having one less option at right-back could prove costly if squad rotation is not possible. Not having Lavezzi available also deprives Blanc of one useful option in domestic games as part of that rotation.
As frequent injuries to Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore have proved already this term, PSG are a little thin on the ground in some areas, and to lose a talented player like Aurier in such an avoidable manner is regrettable.
Should Van der Wiel suffer an injury or one of captain Thiago Silva or David Luiz get injured, Blanc could find himself in a potentially tricky situation for some important games.
