PSG-Monaco: Achraf Hakimi, a gently sloping fall
Ashraf Hakimi’s thunderous debut is only a distant memory. Where did the lateral right go, which chained the lessons, overflowed at full speed or entered the penalty area? Tuesday night against Bruges, there was this sprint which created a false track and allowed Lionel Messi to score. But for several weeks, the highlights of the Moroccan on the ground are few. How then to explain this blow of less well and how is it characterized?
Declining statistics in his favorite sectors
Some statistics will declare this slowing down and point to a radical change in dynamics after mid-September. How can someone who entered the box 19 times in the first five days see that total drop to 13 over the next eleven, even if he was played twice?
Not to miss
Even worse. From the first steps of the preparation, Hakimi had distinguished himself by an offensive contribution and an ability to create danger rarely seen in Paris. And his matches against Troyes or Metz are a reflection of this. During the first six days, he was at the origin of 10 Parisian chances (for two assists), against 6 during the ten following L1 matches.
This overall drop effect is also found in cases of dribbling attempted in the opposing party and dribbling suffered in the defensive phase.
Messi, an element to take into account
Considered the best rookie at the start of the season, Hakimi has since fallen from his clouds. And statistics locate this decline shortly after mid-September. Almost at the time when Lionel Messi appeared on a regular basis in his hallway.
If the two exchanges on the ground, the Parisian side is rarely served in the area or in the last 25 meters opposing by the Argentinian. Tuesday night against Bruges, Messi a past seven passes to Hakimi. And six in the opposite direction.
Above all, the presence of the seven-fold Golden Ball forces the former Madrid player to be more vigilant on the defensive level. He, the counter-attacker also had to somewhat control his desires to move forward.
“In the defensive concentration, he must still progress, but with maturity, he will still progress on this point”, underlines Hervé Renard, who launched it in Moroccan selection.
And this is precisely a point that has jumped out in the eyes in recent games. In the league, Hakimi lost more one-on-one duels at the start of the season and there were many crosses coming from his side. As recalled by the defeat in Rennes, where he is far in scoring on the first goal.
A question of system?
Whether from journalists or his own players, the subject has regularly returned to the ears of Mauricio Pochettino. Wouldn’t a move to 3-5-2 bring more balance to this team? And will it allow Achraf Hakimi to be placed in a better position?
In Italy, the full-back was efficient in this system with a piston position, after having experienced a four-way defense with Dortmund. “In Italy, he learned to defend better. This was where he needed to perform the most. But today, his desire to always attack means that he has to make a lot of effort to defend ”, Hervé Renard analysis.
As pointed out The team, a few minutes after being expelled in Marseille (0-0, October 24), he was astonished to his relatives by the defensive shortcomings of his team, as well as the ability of PSG to win major matches in its conditions.
In the first leg against Leipzig, the move to 3-5-2 gave them more freedom to attack and throw themselves in front. But for now, Mauricio Pochettino seems to see this change more as a short-game response rather than a long-term solution.