Breaking Down the Importance of Thiago Motta to PSG

When Thiago Motta joined Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan in January 2012, as well as bringing a level of solidity to the Ligue 1 side, the Italy international brought a change in attitude to the French capital.

To grow a team of winners, before you actually win anything, you need players that have been there and the sort of people that know what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid midfielder had won 11 separate club trophies before arriving in Paris, including lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy twice and despite turning 34 in August, Motta is as vital to how PSG play, as he was in 2012.

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As an international with thousands of minutes spent on the pitch at the highest level, it’s not only important for Motta to be a winner, he still wants to play football in the right manner—despite a less than gentlemanly reputation.

"I have always said that you win football matches as a team, you lose as a team, defend as a team and attack as a team, it's easier that way," the 33-year-old midfielder told This is Paris on beIN Sports (h/t Ligue1.com).

He added:

"

Of course there are teams about that rely on individual brilliance but I think playing that way complicates things. Playing as a unit suits our team, not just because it's my opinion but it works with our style, involving everyone makes for an easier game and in my opinion it's better to watch too.

"

For PSG, winning now comes naturally, but as is the way in the city, you have to play with a certain style too. Motta’s experience is vital to that philosophy.

This season, although there have been some performances in the Champions League that have shown that he is no longer in the prime of his career, his role is as important as ever. He has played over 2,000 minutes in Ligue 1 this season, with only four players featuring more.

According to WhoScored, he is still completing a high number of his passes, up at 92.3 percent this campaign, which is actually his best return since joining the club.

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Part of that could be down to the injuries picked up by Marco Verratti this season; the younger Italian has only started 11 times, compared to Motta’s 22 starts.

As Verratti continues to develop, there have been calls to see PSG go more attacking, especially at home, questioning if head coach Laurent Blanc really needs to play both defensive-minded midfielders in his starting XI.

However, it’s clear that Motta is still integral to how Blanc’s team play, and the tempo, style and direction they play at. There is still no one in the PSG side that touches the ball more than the Italian veteran.

This season, his average touches per game has gone up from 84.2 last term to 94.4 in the league. Then, to magnify his importance, when the level of difficulty is increased, Motta’s influence is increased in the Champions League.

Last year, Motta averaged 85.2 touches per game, but this season, as PSG reached the quarter-finals, his average has gone up to a staggering 114.9—amazingly, that’s 16 more per game than the next closest player, Bayern Munich’s Xavi Alonso.

He may not have any goals or assists to show for his dominance on the ball, but he is the type of player that the more you don’t notice him, the better a game he is having.

No outfield player at PSG makes more successful long passes than Motta. He may not make the final ball or the key pass, but he’s the man making the pass that gets the ball moving.

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He’s certainly not lost that cynical side either. Only Serge Aurier, who does have a tendency of going to ground, has more yellow cards than Motta’s total of six this season.

For a player that only makes 2.2 tackles per game, compared to Aurier at 3.9 and Adrien Rabiot at 2.8, the veteran makes his presence felt when he needs to.

There are moments against the best sides when you may notice Motta slowing down or getting caught out, but he is still an integral part of Blanc’s squad and how PSG continue to develop and play their football.