How Unai Emery Should Change Things Up for PSG's Trip to Ludogorets
Paris Saint-Germain are suffering from a bout of travel sickness at the moment. Following the 2-0 defeat to Toulouse on Friday, the Ligue 1 champions travel to Bulgaria for their second Champions League group-stage game against Ludogorets.
In order to get their season back underway and to reduce the pressure on the shoulders of coach Unai Emery, the Parisians must find a way to win.
However, there is a suggestion that this is not a PSG problem, but rather an epidemic that Emery has brought with him from Spain.
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Two years ago, under Laurent Blanc, it wasn't until Week 20 that they lost their second league game of the season. In the last campaign, that same result didn't come until the 2-0 home defeat to Monaco in Week 31.
After losing to the Monegasque side in Emery's third league fixture, Friday's defeat means PSG have lost two out of four away games this season, something that is worrying captain Thiago Silva.
"It's not usual to have two defeats like that, but that's football. We have to stay calm,” the centre-back told the press after Friday's game, via Goal.com:
"What worries me a bit is that we lost some of our game. I think that, gradually, it'll come back. Last year we started the season well and finished it better. This year we haven't started well, but the season is long. You have to think as a team. For now, we have to think about how we can change things.
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Changes could be key on Wednesday, and the Spanish coach should think about a few key tactical and personnel shifts to mix things up for this away game.
Kevin Trapp could make his return to the starting XI. There is nothing against Alphonse Areola—you certainly can't blame him for the goals on Friday—but a return to last season's No. 1, in this situation, would make sense.
On the flanks, Serge Aurier, after his red card against Toulouse and his recent jail sentence, has no reason not to play. He doesn't need to be rested, so he should start.
His pace and athleticism are great advantages given how PSG attack. What he does need to fix quickly is his desire to dive into tackles. If he can rein in his reckless side, he will be a huge positive in this team.
Layvin Kurzawa, if fully fit, has to play on the opposite side. PSG is not going to dominate possession in away games, especially with Emery in charge, so they can't count on Maxwell. He played on Friday, and PSG really need the energy, attacking option and drive that Kurzawa adds.
In the middle, it has to be Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. Despite the good form of Presnel Kimpembe, they are the two best centre-backs at the club, around whom PSG are going to build their success.
Ahead of the defence is where Emery needs to make changes and needs to keep elements from the team that started so well against Arsenal.
In pre-season, the 4-2-3-1 worked well. They looked considerably more solid in the centre. The midfield looked protected, and the defence had a strong shield in front of it.
If fit, Emery would obviously start Marco Verratti, but he is a doubt. This formation suits Grzegorz Krychowiak more than 4-3-3, and he can play beside Adrien Rabiot. That would give the team a great passer from deep and someone who can push the ball forward with guile and pace.
Rabiot is reported to be suffering from a groin problem. He’ll still travel, per ESPN FC’s Jonathan Johnson, but he’s unlikely to start.
You then have to pick the two fittest players from Rabiot, Verratti and Krychowiak, but allow one of them to break forward. Verratti is capable of doing it, but he just doesn’t let go of the shackles often enough.
On the left, facemask or not, the best option out there is Blaise Matuidi. He gives his all no matter what. Playing him on the left, his energy and drive can support the attack, but he can slip back and join the midfield battle, too.
Matuidi has a superb left foot. He may not be the most technically gifted player or a skilful winger, but his constant running and ability to burst into the box will ask questions of the Bulgarian side.
That pick would also mean that Emery is able to play a more attacking formation without going completely gung-ho.
On the opposite side, he has to pick between Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura. With both struggling, Emery has to go with the player who has been the best in that position over the last 12 months. No doubt it's been the Argentine, although neither has fully convinced.
"This team still lacks some things, and it is true [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic made the difference alone in complicated matches," former PSG midfielder Jerome Rothen told radio station RMC (via ESPN FC):
"He is no longer there. Lucas [Moura] and [Angel] Di Maria are not doing what they are supposed to be, though.
Yes, they look sluggish. They were building a good run, their confidence was returning and then it quickly came to an end.
It happened more because of a lack of efficiency up against [Toulouse goalkeeper Alban] Lafont than anything else, but the game then changed immediately in the second half.
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Di Maria's numbers in the Champions League—three goals and two assists—couldn't match his league productivity, but he has quality in his left foot to make things happen, especially if you play him on the right of the attack.
You can criticise Edinson Cavani for not scoring the goals you would expect. However, unlike Di Maria and Lucas, you can't mock his work rate. PSG need that away from home, and the Uruguayan will always provide an out ball and look for passes over the top of the defence.
To make that more successful, they need someone with the vision in his game and the magic in his feet to create opportunities. Emery has two No. 10s in his squad: Javier Pastore and the problem child, Hatem Ben Arfa.
The latter, on Friday, let the world know that he was up for the challenge at the Parisian club. However, he was dealt a blow on Tuesday after being ruled out with shin splints, per the official PSG website.
Just when it looks like Ben Arfa might get his chance to show Emery what he can do and that he is willing to work to gain his trust, he'll miss out.
Pastore, although the only real option to play in the No. 10 role, is actually the most obvious choice, even if the former Nice man is fit.
A small injury derailed the Argentine again, something that happened too much last season. He will have a chip on his shoulder and will want to impress.
He has never quite been a player for the big occasion. Facing Ludogorets is not the marquee game PSG crave, but it’s a fixture they have to win. This is when players need to stand up and be counted.
The XI above would give them a very good chance of doing that on Wednesday night.
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