When Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of Idrissa Gueye this summer, it largely went under the radar except for Everton FC supporters who knew they were losing a special player.
Good luck @IGanaGueye – you're going to be very difficult to replace…
— GrandOldTeam (@grandoldteam) July 30, 2019
You wouldn’t normally expect a 30-year-old to come into a side like PSG and make an immediate impact but that’s exactly what Gueye has done. In his short time under Thomas Tuchel, the Senegal international has proven to be exactly the type of midfielder PSG has coveted for years. He is a box-to-box midfielder who is just as comfortable picking the pocket of a player like Eden Hazard as he is intercepting a pass and finding Angel Di Maria for a goal in the UEFA Champions League like he did against Real Madrid. Playing alongside Marquinhos and Marco Verratti, the trio is quickly proving to be a formidable force and other players are starting to take note.
Neymar and Mbappe loved that Di Maria goal 😲 pic.twitter.com/Uijkoilu4p
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 18, 2019
Speaking to Le Parisien, Lucas Digne, a former PSG player and teammate of Gueye at Everton and Lille OSC, explained why the midfielder was crucial to their success in England. “He was one of our key players, the one who balanced the team. He provided the defensive base while being able to launch attacks when necessary.” Anyone who has watched Gueye in a PSG shirt this season would echo Digne’s assessment. It was what the Frenchman said next though that may make some pause:
He [Idrissa Gueye] provided the defensive base while being able to launch attacks when necessary. His profile is completely different from most circles in his ability to recover while anticipating a lot of balls. He makes me think of N’Golo Kante. His qualities are rare.—Lucas Digne, Le Parisien
Kante is the best defensive midfielder in Europe in my opinion. He is a Player of the Year, a FIFA World Cup Winner, and a two-time Premier League champion. His tireless work rate is famous and most impressive, his play on the pitch is consistently at a world-class level. The Frenchman never takes a game off. Gueye has many of these qualities, but what he lacks in the silverware and individual accolades. Gueye’s only trophies were won with Lille back in the 2010-11 season when Les Dogues won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
For Gueye to truly reach Kante’s level, he not only has to stay healthy and continue to perform at an elite level, but he needs to lead PSG to titles. He is the steam engine that propels players like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr. and if Les Parisiens were able to hoist the Champions League trophy at the end of the season, well, he certainly won’t have to worry about being an under-the-radar type player anymore.
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