Tensions in PSG
Tensions are creeping in at Paris Saint-Germain with questions raised as to whether Neymar and Kylian Mbappe — the world’s two most expensive players — are so far justifying their price tags.
PSG is unbeaten and has scored 43 goals in 13 games overall, yet the mood seems surprisingly quizzical ahead of Friday’s home match against Nice.
Both players were heavily criticized following in 2-2 draw at Marseille last weekend, which allowed second-place Monaco — the defending champion — to close PSG’s lead to four points after 10 league games.
Mbappe didn’t make any impact up front and omitted to track back whenever Marseille broke on the counterattack.
Neymar did score his seventh league goal since joining from Barcelona, but his red card gave Marseille the chance to dominate late.
It was the Brazil forward’s fifth red card since breaking into the Santos team in 2009 and, not for the first time, resulted from a petulant reaction.
And it almost proved costly. For the second straight league game, PSG needed an injury-time goal — this time from top scorer Edinson Cavani.
Criticism of Neymar this week centered on his lack of composure, his reluctance to track back, and his self-indulgence.
Neymar’s tendency to hold possession sees him invariably trying to dribble his way through teams, and often leads him to randomly drop deep into midfield to get on the ball as much as possible.
When he does pass, his preference to seek out Mbappe often comes at the expense of Cavani — who scored 49 goals in all competitions last season. Cavani and Neymar disagreed last month over who should take a penalty in a league game, and their relationship does not appear to be a particularly harmonious one.
Cavani’s patience could well be tested — yet again.
The Uruguay striker previously played second fiddle for three years when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was PSG’s star player, and whether he is prepared to do so again could prove crucial to the club’s chances of going far in the Champions League. PSG has failed to get past the quarterfinals despite huge investment since Qatari backers QSI took charge six years ago. /