Tactical Changes PSG Need to Make in 2016/17 Season

Tactically, it looks like things are going to change at Paris Saint-Germain next season. Although Laurent Blanc started his time in the capital playing 4-4-2, he stumbled upon a 4-3-3 formation in a victory at Bordeaux and never looked back.

Well, apart from that night in Manchester last season; the defeat that has cost the former France coach his job. It was confirmed on Monday that Blanc has been relieved of his duties, and now we await the appointment of his successor.

It's not just a case of Unai Emery coming in and changing to 4-2-3-1, his formation of choice at Sevilla, it's more important that PSG look more flexible and able to answer different questions which may be asked of them during a long season.

When Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed huge chunks of the 2014/15 campaign, some of PSG's best football came playing 4-3-1-2. Edinson Cavani was joined by Lucas Moura up top and Javier Pastore was allowed to drift in the No. 10 role.

It worked, and they even beat Barcelona in the group stage of the Champions League. Although this was before Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had all clicked together. Yet, they still logged the victory.

The return of the Swede, despite the possibility of forming a partnership with Cavani, led to Blanc returning to his beloved 4-3-3.

One of the biggest problems Blanc found was trying to accommodate a natural playmaker such as Pastore with Ibrahimovic in the lineup. As he has aged, the former AC Milan forward has dropped deep looking for the ball. He looked to take up the same positions as the Argentinian would, hoping to influence PSG's attacks.

It's hard to argue that it didn’t work. Only Angel Di Maria added more assists last season and the Swede was always one of PSG's biggest creative threats.

With Emery on board and Ibrahimovic gone, things will change—they have to.

The 4-2-3-1 itself gives the Spanish coach a few different looks. He will have to decide what midfield duo best suits his needs, and that could change depending on the opponent.

Marco Verratti should form the base of any team. Once fit, the Italian is the player that Emery's new-look team should be built around, with Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot and Thiago Motta as potential partners. And that's not to mention the links to Grzegorz Krychowiak, per the Telegraph, as discussed in this column, and the potential to play David Luiz in defensive midfield.

Emery has midfield options. Some good, some intriguing. In Ligue 1, there is no need for two defensive-first midfielders. You could easily play with just Verratti and have Matuidi and Rabiot beside him, then play a creative No. 10 in front of them.

No club in Ligue 1, except for when they play AS Monaco or Olympique Lyonnais, poses that much of a problem that you need two defensive midfielders in front of two centre-backs.

In the Champions League, you may want to use the experience of Thiago Motta, or a new signing that is a better defender than someone like Matuidi—not that he's a bad defender—however, the option to be defensive minded is there.

The No. 10 position opens up options too. You can opt for creativity. Playing Pastore, Lucas or even Di Maria there is a positive decision. Let them drift and find space, give them the opportunity to create and pull the strings.

Yet, you could also play Rabiot there. He showed enough last season to suggest he has the ability to pick passes, dictate play and push forward, and that he would provide creativity in the final third. Yet, he could drop in and cover, making a midfield three against tougher opposition.

On the wings, you look at how Sevilla played, with Yevhen Konolplyanka, Vitolo, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Jose Antonio Reyes—forwards who like to stay wide—looking to get crosses into the box. They have that in Lucas, but not so much in Pastore or Di Maria.

With either of the Argentinian forwards, you get a certain level of width, but it's more likely you will see them cut inside and create through the centre, another reason to play with Rabiot or another centre midfielder through the middle.

Playing Di Maria on the right, he will cut inside onto his left foot, he will create chances, and he will position himself as a playmaker coming off the wing.

Pastore can do similar off either side. You would have to believe that if Emery wants to play 4-2-3-1, he needs at least one more natural winger.

Playing with wingers who hug the touchline would give PSG something they often lacked last season. Too often, the natural width that stretches defences was absent. It then becomes easier to cope with their threats, especially in Ligue 1 when the defenders are comfortable with the play starting in front of them.

Look to get in behind, look to turn the centre-backs and feed balls into the box for Cavani to get on the end of.

Blanc's 4-3-3 was far too rigid and fixed. You always knew what you were going to get. He used the same type of players in every position, regardless of the XI picked.

Playing 4-2-3-1 could give PSG a number of different looks within the same system.

Emery’s system could also determine who plays in the full-back position. Serge Aurier is good enough to play on both ends, and he gets up and down the pitch with ease. He provides an attacking threat and a presence that opens up space for the right-sided forward.

On the other side, there is a decision to make.

If Emery is asking the left-sided forward to cut inside, you then want the left-back behind him to push forward and provide width. Think Benoit Tremoulinas with Sevilla. Maxwell, who has signed a new one-year deal, can provide that attacking threat, but then he will struggle to get back to his defensive role.

When playing with two central midfielders, he won’t have the same level of cover coming from the players in front. If you want your left-back to concentrate on the defensive side, Maxwell is still a fantastic option.

This should leave Layvin Kurzawa to win more minutes next season. He showed week in, week out during his time at Monaco that he can do both. His crosses to Radamel Falcao are exactly what Cavani will be praying for in a 4-2-3-1. It is his time to shine, especially in Ligue 1—and it’s not like he’s a Champions League novice.

Kurzawa’s ability to cover the whole wing should become a huge part of PSG’s play next season.

All too often, Blanc’s 4-3-3 was uninspired and stagnant, with many wanting him to change it up. Although just a small change, even just moving to 4-2-3-1 would give Emery more options and different looks within the same system.

The most important part of their success will come from the players he uses and where he places them.