Being fantastic doesn't make you essential. At least as far as PSG and L'Équipe regards. The comeback suffered by the Parisians in the last league clash against Lorient, after letting a 1-2 go, continues to give analysis and in the last, the most 'affected' is Kylian Mbappé. The forward, star in Parque de los Príncipes with Neymar and a crucial part of the Fantastic four completed by Di María and Icardi, has seen how the French newspaper excludes him when it comes to talking about essential players in the team. It's more, only Neymar is part of the spinal column that the aforementioned media describes as 'the Indispensables'.
Keylor Navas, Marquinhos, Verratti and Neymar. Those are the names that make up this newly minted group and that, surprisingly, does not include a Mbappé who was already singled out after the defeat for his performance. The first three did not take part in the clash at the Stade Moustoir, while the fourth was the only one that was saved from the burning. Not only for having converted two penalties into a double, but also for being the only real threat throughout the 90 minutes.
'The vocal leader', 'the undefeated', 'the entertainer' and 'the genius'
The absences of Keylor, Marquinhos and Marco were noticed in the meeting and from L'Equipe analyze why. The 'tico' arrived in Paris to provide security for a too irregular goal until his arrival. However, it is his leadership that stands out. 'The vocal leader' of PSG is noted both on and off the field of play and point out that Sergio Rico does not fill the shoes of a Navas who could not dress short due to a blow to the chest. They emphasize that his colleagues missed his instructions in the Loire Valley, as well as its saving stops when worst come given, as against Angers with 1-0 on the scoreboard or against Lille with 0-0.
The Brazilian defender (or pivot) missed the appointment due to adductor problems and, as almost always when he is not part of the eleven, PSG suffered. The nickname of 'the undefeated' is not gratuitous, and it is that Marquinhos does not know defeat in Ligue 1, where the Parisians average 2.7 points per games with him on the field, for the 1.1 that accumulate in their absences. The data speaks for itself of the importance of a crucial player in the face of the Champions League tie against Barça. If Keylor is the voice, Marquinhos is the battle and the inspiration for his teammates. In fact, Tuchel already placed him with the largest: “It is at the level of the Ballon d'Or”.
The third leg of the bench is Verratti, from whom COVID-19 'stole' the title against Lorient. With a supersonic attack and a muscular midfield, the small Italian is the architect of the defense-attack transition. 'The entertainer'As he nicknames him 'L'Équipe', he brings joy to Parisian football and Pochettino has given him the keys to the engine room since his arrival. Without his clairvoyance for the pass, Neymar and Mbappé receive balls in worse conditions and it becomes more difficult for them to produce chances. In addition, the four fouls that he forces per game show how difficult it is to steal the ball.
By last, 'the genius'. Nobody is going to discover Neymar right now. The Brazilian has become a total player at PSG and, controversies aside, he is not disputed as one of the best players on the planet. After a dark stage, his happiness in the French capital is full and its renewal is going from strength to strength. As we say, he was the best against Lorient with two goals and already adds, in a season that started weighed down by injuries, 13 goals and 5 assists in 16 games (1,251 minutes). That is, participate in a goal every 69.5 minutes. Indispensable.
Make the fantastic indispensable
The doubts about using the 'Fantastic Four' or are not news for Pochettino, since since his arrival in Paris he has on the table the lace of his stars. Now, after seeing them shipwrecked against Lorient, that decision becomes important, with the eighth of the Champions League against Barça on the horizon (February 16). The 'four essentials' are non-negotiable, at least for L'Équipe, but the main task of the satafesino is to achieve that the fantastic is not at odds with the indispensable. This way, the puzzle would fit. For it, Mbappé is the key piece of the gear and more considering that his renewal does not follow the same paths as that of Neymar …