Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has proved throughout his run with the club that he is not afraid to take tactical risks with his side. For one, Tuchel has received notable criticism for playing midfielder Danilo Pereira as a center-back. The Portuguese talent has made four starts out as a center-back, with the appearances being split in UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 play. He has had mixed results over his play out as a defender, and one former PSG talent is not backing this tactical decision from Tuchel.
Former PSG midfielder Eric Rabesandratana is not holding back with his criticism of Tuchel. In an interview with Le Parisien, he specifically singled out his concern with Tuchel continuing to play Pereira as a center-back.
“It is not possible in a group management to put Danilo Pereira in defense and Marquinhos in the middle,” Rabesandratana said. “I blame him because I’m on the side of the club, for him to win. I have nothing against Tuchel, whom I do not know but it annoys me that he treats the club like that.”
One notable knock on Tuchel has been his heavy reliance on the team’s superstar forwards in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Rabesandratana also hit on this criticism by calling out Tuchel for his inability to establish a team identity that broadens beyond Neymar and Mbappe.
“I’m not categorical, he can still change even if in two years, there has been no change in the team,” Rabesandratana said. “Coaching, with replacements in the 80th, is often catastrophic. The game identity does not exist. He is a trainer who adapts to his two stars, Neymar and Mbappe, three with Di Maria, without having found a collective around.”
These criticisms sure are not new to Tuchel.
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Tuchel and Leonardo have failed to find good and sound defenders and high caliber midfielders for PSG. That’s one reason that the team is faultering.