This isn’t a reactionary thought, at least not reactionary off the back of the losses to RB Leipzig and Manchester United in the Champions’ League. If anything, that loss against the Red Devils just highlighted everything wrong with the current incarnation of Paris Saint-Germain. Naturally, whenever PSG lose, the post-match analysis revolves around the same themes. It always seems to be same talking points: “Neymar is overrated, he’s not good enough to lead an elite team,” “Mbappé will be leaving in the summer, he’s wasting his time in France,” “what does this mean for the future of the PSG manager?”
Of course, some of the analysis is valid. That the recruitment strategy of Paris Saint-Germain be in the firing line is certainly justified following a bizarre summer of business. Whilst this development certain hasn’t suddenly appeared out of nowhere following the defeats to Man United and RB Leipzig, the losses themselves did highlight the initial feelings towards the transfer window. Another point that didn’t just appear after these defeats was the future of manager Thomas Tuchel, further shining a light on the breaking down of the relationship between the German and PSG’s Sporting Director Leonardo, with the duo in public revolt against each other.
But for perhaps the first time in Tuchel’s reign at the Parc des Princes, a sizeable number of PSG supporters are starting to seriously question whether he is the right man for the job. Tuchel does split opinion and you’ll probably find some fans that wanted him gone at the end of the previous season, but after reaching the Champions’ League final it was only fair to give him the chance to start again. After the loss to United, Tuchel said it was “by far, one of our worst games, one of our worst first halves,” and explained that “It was not our level. I don’t know why, but I can just say that it was not our level, in moving the ball, in possession, in counter-attacking, in challenges, in intensity.”
For the first time, Tuchel looked lost, out of ideas and completely devoid of anything remotely positive. He’d been tussling with the board for signings in the summer, now he’s got an uninterested and lopsided looking attack, a non-existent midfield and a defence that can be outstanding one week to a complete disaster the next. In a way, I feel sorry for him and perhaps, in the nicest way possible, it’s time for the German to move on. Maybe, Tuchel and PSG have just had their fill of one another and need something new to freshen things up. And if he was to depart the Parc des Princes, that leaves the door open to a lot of new ideas. Continue reading