PSG has been shunning out an impressive performance in their preseason ahead of return to football action, and their manager, Thomas Tuchel, is happy.
The Ligue 1 champions were ruthless dominated Waasland-Beveren, who they thumped 7-0. The Belgian club finished at the bottom of the Belgian championship last season.
At the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain started with their star players with a special format, four 30-minute quarters. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, Thiago Silva and Marco Verratti were substitutes during last week’s 9-0 drubbing of Le Havre. But they all started against the Belgian side.
After the win, Tuchel said what’s most important was that the Paris club had the opportunity to play four times 30 minutes by giving each player 60 minutes.
This he said was great for the team as they increased their work volume, which the german tactician said was the first objective.
The long break was evident on Neymar and Icardi as they lacked match sharpness. PSG had no defensive worry against a club that could be playing in the Belgian second division next year
PSG opened the goals account in the 20th minute when Aleksandar Vukotic headed the ball into his net. Neymar doubled the Paris club’s lead from the spot penalty (28′) PSG later got a four-goal lead after goals from Icardi and Mbappe in the 47th 60th minutes respectively.
Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting also put his name in the scoring sheet in a re-worked PSG line-up, by scoring a brace between 65 and 67 minutes. Loïc Mbe Soh then completed the rout in the 93rd minute.
Satisfied, Tuchel said his lads created a lot of chances and didn’t concede any goals. He also noted that with no injuries, there is a feeling that the team is very concentrated.
He said the benefit of working well together would keep them going in their next set of games.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed