PSG Academy

An In-Depth Look at the Paris Saint-Germain Academy

It seems the Parc des Princes cannot stop producing bad eggs.

Earlier this month, highly-rated young defender Marquinhos became the latest in a string of Paris Saint-Germain youth prospects to complain about their playing time. In context, the act is hardly outrageous. Manager Laurent Blanc opted, in a low-priority cup game, to field fellow youth prospect Presnel Kimpembe in place of David Luiz or Thiago Silva. Instead of Marquinhos alongside him, however, the Paris boss preferred to give Thiago Motta and Benjamin Stambouli the role. The former A.S. Roma man would get a cameo towards the end of the game, in an oft-maligned defensive midfield position.

It is easy to blame Blanc for mismanagement. Le President is a notorious disciplinarian, a self-professed admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson. He takes a hardline stance against anyone attempting to undermine him, fining and excluding Rabiot for showing up late to a cup final and then embarassing him in a press conference regarding his comments about a potential loan move. Given that Marquinhos gave his troublesome interview on the same day as the cup tie against Wasquehal, it seems possible that Blanc could have done this as a disciplinary measure.

So why do snubbed young players sabotage themselves, if the manager’s retribution clearly comes swiftly?

Read the full article at World Soccer Talk.

Tags Adrien Rabiot Alec Georgen Alphonse Areola Angel Di Maria Blaise Matuidi David Luiz Edinson Cavani Gregory van der Wiel Hervin Ongenda Javier Pastore Jean-Christophe Bahebeck Jean-Kevin Augustin Kingsley Coman Laurent Blanc Lorenzo Callegari Marco Verratti Marquinhos Odsonne Edouard Presnel Kimpembe Thiago Silva Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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