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“It’s both beautiful and frustrating,” says the PSG manager. The Paris Saint-Germain manager has a complicated relationship with how his team’s league matches develop. When PSG are involved, one team goes forward and the other protects. “I enjoy facing defensive setups,” he asserts. “It is the phase of play that I am most familiar with. I am very respectful of how other teams play. Though unconventional compared to our style, I acknowledge and welcome it.”

Dealing with deep defenses is unavoidable for PSG; this is their regular experience, due to the quality difference created by economic disparity. Their quality typically shines through and the defensive wall is broken with mixed ease. However, this campaign has been more challenging.

Dominant Possession Yet Limited Results

The Parisians have maintained over 72% ball control in the French league so far this season. Against Nice on Saturday, they had 76.5% of the ball and made over 750 passes, against just under 200 for their opponents. By half-time, their playmaker had 90 contacts with the ball – only six less than the entire Nice team – but PSG struggled to make their domination tell. When the whistle blew for the interval, Nice defender Juma Bah, whose header was cleared off the line by his teammate, had been the most dangerous.

This match wasn't an exception. They had shared points in 75% of their recent Ligue 1 games. Dominating possession with 71% against their opponents, but were dependent on a late Senny Mayulu equaliser to secure one point. Although possessing 77% possession against their midweek opponents in midweek, they found the net only once and were ultimately held to a draw. Approximately 33% of the way into the season, PSG are only the fifth top scorers in Ligue 1 – behind Marseille, Lille, Monaco and Strasbourg.

Attacking Unit Struggles

This reflects the special treatment that PSG attract, but also indicates a serious concern. Their attackers are struggling. Ousmane Dembélé’s 29 strikes last season aided in securing Ligue 1 and the continental trophy; Another attacker scored 14 occasions in the league; Désiré Doué hit 16 in all competitions; and Kvaratskhelia scored eight after his winter transfer.

Dembélé won the prestigious award and, while it is debatable that the French star is indeed the global standout, it is difficult to argue that he was not the top performer of the last season. He's recorded merely five goals in 12 appearances this season. He encountered a hamstring injury while on international duty in September, which led to a dispute between PSG and the French federation that has seen the connection between club and country deteriorate. He was unavailable for around several weeks of action as a result, but he still doesn’t look right. Post-match against their rivals, he was seen touching his muscle. “The pain is intense,” he told club colleague.

Player Availability

Their manager says the forward should be available to face Bayern Munich this week in the European competition but, while he regains his form, teammates must contribute. It won’t be Doué. The former Rennes forward was also injured in September. He was returning to his best when he was suffered another thigh injury, which is expected to rule him out until January. The Georgian is a important contributor to his team but he often excels mainly for the big occasions in the European stage; he is still without a goal in Ligue 1 this season. Their current top scorer, PSG’s highest goal-getter in all competitions this season, has just a single strike in his last eight matches and is in a dry spell. A player who scores in bursts, the scoring will surely resume, but he shouldn't be relied upon to be the goalscorer in this expensively assembled PSG attack.

Their center forward got the decisive goal against Nice but will he keep his place in the team?

That was the job given to Gonçalo Ramos when he signed in last year. The international forward achieved the landmark of 100 matches for PSG against Nice, but he has been a substitute in more than half of those appearances. With 18 of his 38 goals after being introduced from the bench, he has clearly taken on the role of the “finisher”, somewhat owing to his limited contribution when selected, but mostly due to his boss's unwillingness to begin with a traditional striker. “Why do I score so many goals off the bench? The simple reason is I'm substituted in more often than I begin games,” joked Ramos after the match.

Critical Moment

With their attack struggling across the attacking unit, his late decisive goal has given his coach something to consider. The striker failed to convert several opportunities before scoring his final and deciding the game, but the fact that PSG’s best chances fell to him is significant. He's a natural goal scorer and that is what PSG were buying when they invested €65m. “He's a crucial squad member for us because he is constantly prepared for every match, even if he begins on the bench,” said the manager. “Even brief appearances from Gonçalo are quality minutes.” It may be time for the bench specialist to play a starring role.

Ligue 1 Results

• Rennes 4-1 Strasbourg
• Lens 3-0 Lorient
• Lille 1-0 Angers
• Nantes 0-2 Metz
• Toulouse 0-0 Le Havre
• Brest 0-0 Lyon
• PSG 1-0 Nice
• Monaco 0-1 Paris FC
• Auxerre 0-1 Marseille

Current Rankings

Position	Team	Played	Goal Difference	Points
1	PSG	11	12	24
2	Marseille	11	14	22
3	Lens	11	7	22
4	Lille	11	10	20
5	Monaco	11	6	20
6	Lyon	11	4	20
7	Strasbourg	11	6	19
8	Nice	11	0	17
9	Toulouse	11	2	15
10	Rennes	11	1	15
11