Analysing the Importance of Lucas Moura to PSG
After a slow start to the season, Lucas Moura is now motoring for Paris Saint-Germain, and the Brazil international recently established himself as a preferred member of Laurent Blanc’s starting XI at the expense of the infuriatingly inconsistent Edinson Cavani.
The 23-year-old has become more decisive for the French champions in recent months and his excellent solo goal late on in the Coupe de France victory at AS Saint-Etienne last week illustrated how much more of a threat he has become in front of goal.
Moura has six Ligue 1 goals and five assists from 27 appearances so far this season, one goal away from levelling his all-time best league campaign at Parc des Princes and we still have over two months of action left.
TOP NEWS
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Smart's Blunt Game 1 Assessment
Vanderbilt Suffers Brutal Finger Injury
Added to the two goals from seven outings in the domestic cups, as well as two goals and an assist from six UEFA Champions League games, the South American has 10 goals and six assists from 40 appearances across all competitions to his name.
Moura should arguably be in double figures for both goals and assists this term, but with a decent amount of time left this season, the former Sao Paulo man should be able to hit double figures for both across all competitions and possibly in Le Championnat alone.
After scoring the only goal of the game in PSG’s 1-0 win away at Lille OSC to open the campaign, Les Parisiens’ No. 7 did little over the following two months. It was not until he scored as a substitute in a 4-1 thrashing of Saint-Etienne at home that the Selecao Brasileira star’s form started to pick up.
Moura followed up that goal—a rare header—with a sublime assist for Angel Di Maria’s volleyed winner at Stade Rennais one week later and it was at that moment that the Brazilian’s term was launched.
The jet-heeled wide man added to that goal and assist with another strike in the 5-0 thrashing of Toulouse FC in the capital and from that moment on, he has been a regular contributor in one way or another for the runaway Ligue 1 leaders.
It took him until the start of 2016, but Moura is now an established member of the starting XI and PSG’s front three has a more balanced appearance.
The samba star and Di Maria flank the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the combination of two natural wide men, as well as a striker capable of scoring and creating chances, is a potent mix.
When all three are on form, there are few better attacks in world football—with the obvious exception of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
However, despite Moura's success in wresting a starting role away from Cavani, there is still a fierce debate as to whether the Brazilian is better as an impact substitute or as member of the team from kick-off.
The man from Sao Paulo has scored four of his 10 goals and picked up four of his five assists across all competitions as a starter, while six of his goals and one assist have come as a substitute.
Those figures paint a relatively balanced picture of Moura’s contribution this season and taking into account the direct threat that he offers through his searing pace—one that Cavani is unable to replicate—Blanc preferring the Brazil international as his third starting attacker at present makes sense.
The 23-year-old has become more decisive as the season has progressed and the player admitted in a recent interview with PSG’s official website (in French), that he is now doing everything that his coach asks him to do.
Moura added that although he is pleased with how his campaign is going so far and the fact he has established himself as a starter, he must continue to work hard if he is to remain an integral part of Blanc’s plans.
Since arriving in Paris back in the January of 2013, the Olympic silver medallist and FIFA Confederations Cup winner has become an immensely popular member of the five-time Ligue 1 champions’ team.
Only last summer, PSG saw fit to reward Moura with a contract extension until 2019 and already some are questioning whether the capital club will soon need to offer him fresh terms.
Speaking with Goal’s Loic Tanzi, the player admits that the end of his current deal is a long way off—although he is open to extending his stay in Paris past that point:
"There will be time for that until 2019. I’ve got a lot to do, so I’ve not thought about it yet. My aim is to win titles and PSG is a club that I love. I’m enjoying life in France and I want to stay here for a long time. That’ll depend on how I do in the coming seasons. That club will have to think about it too, but I really want to stay here.
"
Moura’s influence extends far beyond the pitch though. Not only is he an important member of Blanc’s starting XI at present, he is also an immensely popular member of one of the most influential groups within PSG’s eclectic squad mix.
Les Parisiens’ Brazilian contingent is sizeable and Moura is one of the more vocal members of it. Particularly friendly with the likes of fellow Selecao Brasileira star Marquinhos, the former is an influential—albeit younger—member of the group.
His popularity is not confined to within his Paris-based compatriots either, even the likes of the larger-than-life Ibrahimovic appear to appreciate the South American’s perpetually cheerful outlook and keenness to learn and improve himself on the pitch.
Although he has not always been as decisive as he is at present, Moura remains an important member of the PSG squad and deservedly possesses a starting role under Blanc.
There is little need for the Ligue 1 leaders to consider cashing in on their No. 7, although he does need to keep working on his consistency and getting his assists into double figures to compliment his goals tally.
However, as performers at Parc des Princes go, few are as exciting as Moura in full flow. If he continues at his current level of productivity, then he could realistically keep Cavani out of the starting XI until at least the end of the season.
.png?w=600 "Who Will Panthers Take at No. 9 ? 🤔")
