Now that the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season is over, it’s time to hand out some grades to the Paris Saint-Germain players for their performance in the French top flight.
Note: In order to be graded, each player needed to have appeared in at least five Ligue 1 matches this season.
Tanguy Kouassi
Intro: Along with Presnel Kimpembe, Tanguy Kouassi is personally one of my favorite players. In a team with so much charisma and flair, Kouassi is a breath of fresh air. You rarely hear from him in the press or see him at any of the parties in Paris. At 17-years-old, he carries himself like a savvy veteran while also showing on the pitch why he is one of the best teenagers in the world.
Kouassi barely passed the threshold for qualifying for my grading system with only six appearances, which is actually quite an accomplishment considering his age. His best game in Ligue 1 came late in the season against Amiens SC on February 15. PSG was surprisingly outplayed by the now relegated side and went down 3-0 early. In the second half, it was Kouassi who led the comeback with two goals in quick succession and the match ultimately ended 4-4.
Stats:
6 Appearances
2 Goals
51.7 Accurate Passes per Game
2.2 Aerial Duels Won per Game
2.2 Ground Duels Won per Game
0.5 Interceptions per Game
0.3 Tackles per Game
1 Yellow card
Final Grade: B
Outlook: Kouassi split time between defensive midfielder and center-back in his appearances with PSG in Ligue 1. He also became the club’s youngest player to ever start a UEFA Champions League game (against Galatasaray SK last October). Talents like Kouassi don’t come around too often, which is why I was devastated to read that RB Leipzig feels like they have tied up a deal for the Frenchman to make the move to the Bundesliga after the season ends and sign a professional contract with them instead of PSG.
There’s still a chance that Kouassi could remain in Paris and Thomas Tuchel’s willingness to play him this season should show the youngster that he could have a bright future in the French capital.
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