PSG looking into countering Man United counter attacks
On Tuesday, 18 months after a heartbreaking elimination by the English side in Europe’s premier club competition, Paris St Germain will focus on countering Manchester United’s counter-attacks in their Champions League opener.
At the last 16 stages in 2019, PSG lost a two-goal first-leg lead in a 3-1 home loss by United but reached the final this year before losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in August.
Coach Thomas Tuchel warned that on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, where PSG’s all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani could debut for the visitors, previous accomplishments would mean little.
Although United have already conceded 12 goals this season in four Premier League matches, which seems to make them vulnerable to the attacking force of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria of PSG, Tuchel has set the priorities of his side.
They have made several improvements, adding new players with more confidence and more experience to the 2018-19 squad. Paul Pogba is a vital player and one of the world’s best midfielders. It’s essential to stop him, and to stop Bruno Fernandes, too. He’s playing with three very quick forwards. In terms of attacks and changes, they’re one of the strongest teams in Europe. Before they launch their counter-attacks, it’s essential to stop them.
Without injured midfielders Marco Verratti and Argentine Leandro Paredes, PSG will not have it simple as they are, with the Italian out of action for three weeks with a thigh injury.
Tuchel also hopes that Uruguayan striker Cavani, 33, doesn’t exhibit the kind of form he showed at PSG in seven seasons where he scored 200 goals for a club record.
Cavani wrote the history of the club, so it’s going to be strange that he’s playing with another club against PSG at the Parc. Defending against Cavani is quite tricky. He is a player of fantastic quality. It isn’t essential tomorrow that he proves himself right.
