PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Hoping to take the next step
After repeated knockout-stage debacles, the nouveaux riche Parisians finally lived up to their princely status last season, achieving a highly-commendable runners-up spot after defeat to Bayern in Lisbon. No longer the continental nearly men, no longer with a monkey on their back, the feeling in the camp is that they are now psychologically free to push onwards and upwards. One thing is for sure – they are not assuming “job done”. PSG’s Qatari backers will not be satisfied until the club’s first Champions League title is safely stored away.
Some claim they rely too much on superstar attackers, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. The truth is you can never have too much stratospheric quality. As long as the dynamic duo deliver the goods, PSG can confidently expect to be in contention. In a perfect world, the pair should be straining every sinew to definitively establish themselves as the successors to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. No doubt about it; in the shape of Neymar, Mbappe and Argentina right-wing ace Angel Di Maria, PSG boast one of the most potent front lines in Europe.
The Ligue 1 giants do have their issues, of course. They are short of top-class options at full-back – especially after left-back Juan Bernat recently tore cruciate ligaments – and only have a workaday midfield. With long-serving centre-back Thiago Silva moving to Chelsea, the role of defensive controller and team leader will go to his fellow countryman Marquinhos. Last season the latter was rather wasted in a midfield holding role.
Is Argentina striker Mauro Icardi destined only to serve as supersub?
With Neymar used as a false nine, it would seem so. Last season, his first at PSG following a switch from Inter, the goleador very much blew hot and cold, often showing his limitations in big games. Not enough mobility or work rate.
Have PSG taken their eye off the ball with regard to midfield manpower?
Unquestionably. Over recent years, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Adrien Rabiot have all made for the Parc des Princes exit and not been replaced. The little Italian playmaker Marco Verratti who does tend to be somewhat injury prone - will this season be joined by Danilo Pereira from Porto and Rafinha from Barcelona.
Do they have a discipline problem?
The three red cards – for Neymar, Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes – they received at the tail-end of the Marseille defeat would suggest so. They lost their cool and their self-control. Such excesses cannot happen again. “I can’t defend the indefensible,” declared director of sport Leonardo.
Much water has passed under the bridge since Ajax dazzled en route to the last four of the 2018-19 Champions League, stylishly seeing off Real Madrid and Juventus before throwing away their semi-final confrontation with Tottenham. Centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and midfield strategist Frenkie de Jong exited stage left immediately, while two other members of their attacking-third “Dream Team”, Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech departed this summer. However a new crop of talent is always waiting in the wings in Amsterdam, and in midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, centre-back Perr Schuurs and Burkino Faso striker Lassina Traore, they have a real next generation of quality ready to earn their stripes.
Forever searching the globe for young talent, the Ajax management is justifiably excited about two of their latest signings. 20-year-old Brazilian right-winger Antony (ex-Sao Paulo) and precocious Ghanaian attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus – picked up from Danish side Nordsjaelland
– are brimming over with potential and seem sure to figure prominently in the plans of first-team coach Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag has a score to settle in Europe. He believes his team would have qualified from last season’s group phase if VAR and refereeing decisions had not gone against them in matches v Chelsea (a 1-0 home loss and 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge).
In welcome news, Dutch international centre-back Daley Blind has recovered from a pre-season heart scare.
Can Ajax cope without Sergino Dest?
Absolutely. They already have a fine right-back in the shape of Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui. The 22-year-old was an attacking midfielder during his time at the Ajacied academy and how it shows in his bold, creative full-back play.
Who will lead the line this term?
Ten Hag has been experimenting with Moroccan international Zakaria Labyad in the role of centre-forward. Normally, free-kick expert Labyad plays out wide or as an attacking midfielder. Up-and-coming west African Traore is another option, as is veteran striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Where is competition the hottest?
On the right wing, where two Brazilians, David Neres and new boy Antony will do battle for the favours of Ten Hag. Antony, an electrifying bundle of tricks and goal threat, has looked the part so far, while Neres is slowly being re-introduced following a long-term knee injury.
Early this year, the word in the Spanish press was that long-serving Atletico coach Diego Simeone was losing his once-iron grip on the dressing room, that a number of players were rebelling against his ultra-demanding physical conditioning regime and safety-first tactics. Was it the beginning of the end? Not a bit of it. In March, his warrior crew famously beat holders Liverpool home and away in the round of 16 and the Colchoneros proved equally resilient in the latter stages of La Liga, recovering from a mediocre start to secure a thirdplace finish. Simeone came in for a lot of criticism in the wake of his side’s surprise Champions League quarter-final defeat to RB Leipzig, with many claiming he had got his team selection wrong. Not that Simeone is going anywhere. After leading Atletico to some of their finest hours - the La Liga title in 2013-14 and Champions League runner-up spots in 2013-14 and 2015-16 - he still has more than sufficient credit left in the bank.
The signing of Barcelona’s unwanted Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez could be just what the doctor ordered. Costing a mere €6m, Suarez, 33, plainly has a point to prove following his Nou Camp defenestration. Last season, Atleti often lacked punch in the red zone. Suarez, a 30-goal-a-season man, looks like the patent remedy.
All at Atletico will be keeping their fingers crossed that Portuguese attacking boy wonder Joao Felix makes more of a contribution this term. Felix, the club’s most expensive-ever player - bought from Benfica in the summer of 2019 for €127m - only produced in fits and starts in 2019-20. Will class prevail?
The problem with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is that you never know which version of the Red Devils is going to turn up. Will it be the A team which won seven of their ten matches against top six clubs in the Premier League last season? Or the side which was hammered in home defeats by Crystal Palace and Spurs this season? After missing out on the Champions League in 2019-20, there’s every reason to believe that the big-match stakes will bring out the best of their most prominent stars – midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes and striker Marcus Rashford.
One of Solskjaer biggest dilemmas is the composition of his midfield. An engine room made up of Pogba, Fernandes and new £35m Dutch signing Donny van de Beek is a mouthwatering prospect offensively. But how useful will the trio be when they have to turn around and try to stifle opposition counter-attacks? At the highest level in Europe, such a formula may just be too adventurous. The more logical move would have the experienced Serb Nemanja Matic or the promising Scott McTominay anchoring in front of the back four.
United desperately need to make a better fist of defending as well. Repeated howlers from Spanish keeper David De Gea shines a light on a player in decline. And just as worrying is the lack of pace and mobility in central defence of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Right now, the pair are struggling to live up to their expensive price-tags.