Neymar on form, but Di Maria key cog for Tuchel’s PSG
PARIS: Neymar may have grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Red Star Belgrade in their midweek Champions League match, but Angel Di Maria is proving vital to the French giants’ strong start to the season.
The 6-1 hammering of Red Star at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday was already the second time this term that all of Di Maria, Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe have scored in a game.
That only happened twice in the entirety of last season, when the Argentinian was often overlooked by former coach Unai Emery for the biggest matches.
The attacking trio dubbed ‘MCN’ last year has become a fourpronged front line under new boss Thomas Tuchel, with Di Maria starting both of PSG’s Champions League games so far, having failed to even complete 90 minutes once in the competition in 2017/18.
“It’s a gift to work with a player like Angel, he’s a great professional, who works hard in training, can play in multiple positions, at a top level and is totally reliable,” gushed Tuchel.
The 30-year-old Di Maria has scored six times in 11 appearances so far this season and is full of praise for German Tuchel.
“He made me understand that he was counting on me,” Di Maria told TF1. “Tuchel brings something new, he’s a more aggressive coach who likes the team to play with high pressing.
“He came here to win the Champions League, it can be a great year for us.” - AFP