Ramos, proof by nine

One goal in the last three matches. It was a PSG in doubt on the offensive level which traveled to Salzburg on Tuesday, during the sixth day of the Champions League. To dominate, multiply passes and occupy the opposing camp, there are people. To score, a little less… A psychological blockage? “No, but we asked ourselves a lot of questions”admits Bradley Barcola. Questions which were, in part, answered at the Red Bull Arena. And this even if the low level of the Austrian team invites us to put the analyzes and praise into perspective, individually or collectively.

The ills of this PSG are well known. Antoine Kombouaré summed them up a few weeks ago, after PSG-Nantes (1-1): “Their shortcomings? Efficiency, realism. He (Luis Enrique) always said “I don’t want a 50-goal scorer”, he wants several scorers. Today, that’s where the problem lies.”noted the Canaries coach, adding that the Parisians missed him “to be more killer in the penalty area”. The former PSG defender added that Gonçalo Ramos could represent at least part of the solution: “He’s making a comeback, we have to give him a little time”. “Golden Helmet” had everything right across the board. The proof Tuesday. Proof by nine.

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The end of the curse

With the Portuguese as a fixation point, a target for the centers but not only that, PSG, easy winner (0-3), seemed more coherent than in recent weeks. In this pattern, Luis Enrique expects several things from his 9: make defensive efforts and put pressure on the opponent's first restart, keep the ball under pressure but also and above all score. Seeing the former Benfica header towards the opposing goal in the 10th minute, we could begin to doubt the last point. And even more so when seeing Ramos score a ready-made goal from within six meters, in the 24th minute. The curse. At that time, Kylian Mbappé was still the last striker to score in C1 for Paris Saint-Germain. It was in mid-April, in the return quarters, against Barça (4-1 victory).

All series have an end. Including the worst ones. Cross from Barcola, header from the excellent Achraf Hakimi and Ramos who breaks away to score with a flick from the outside of the right, in extension, while the ball was destined to escape the frame. A center forward goal. The first in C1 with Paris for the 23-year-old, who had scored four with Benfica.

“A click? I think it will click. We had been struggling in front of the opposing goal for a few games. Scoring three away goals is very good and I hope it continues.”notes Bradley Barcola, very active but clumsy in the last gesture on Tuesday. Lined up on the right in place of the suspended Ousmane Dembélé, Kang-in Lee was not very dangerous, apart from a nice shot which hit the top corner in the first period. Randal Kolo Muani and Marco Asensio watched the spectacle from the bench, while Désiré Doué, decisive passer on Nuno Mendes' goal and scorer himself at the end of the game, made the show happen on Austrian soil.

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He’s a finisher, he brings continuity.

Luis Enrique

Enough to imagine a bright tomorrow. Or at least find a little smile again. In any case, PSG will not be able to hope for anything without attackers who are decisive in the zone of truth, that's for sure. With this idea in mind, the return of Gonçalo Ramos is, obviously, excellent news. And this even if Luis Enrique responds simply and dryly «non» when asked if the contribution of the native of Olhão changes the game of his team. “He doesn’t change our game. He’s a finisher. It brings continuity, it’s another profile”supported the Spanish coach at a press conference.

Questioned before the meeting, also at a press conference, Bradley Barcola however had another vision of things: “We know that we have more presence in the area on crosses with him. It gives us more confidence in the opposing area. We can center. He's also good with his back to the game. But when it comes to crosses, it's good to have a player who we know can cut at the near post, who is really in the box. It's good.”

Luis Enrique probably does not intend to completely rule out the false 9 option. Moreover, the entry of Doué in place of Ramos helped to energize the end of the match. In the meantime, Gonçalo Ramos brings something that neither Barcola, nor Dembélé, nor Lee or Asensio have: he is a scorer. He has it in his blood. He thinks goal. He dreams goal. He eats purposely. Certainly, it's not Erling Haaland. And we don't really know yet what its potential is. Finally, he only played a little last year in “Champions”. However, Paris does not have any better in this register. Especially since “Kolo” is in the cellar. For him, it would be better to find a way out in the winter transfer window.

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A playing card

Gonçalo Ramos has a real card to play in Paris. A boulevard in fact. A golden opportunity. Victim of an ankle injury during the first day of Ligue 1, he only returned to Munich (1-0 defeat) on November 26. Holder but silent against Nantes (1-1) and Auxerre (0-0), he did what he is paid to do, what PSG bet €80 million for: score.

And if it can give ideas to other offensive players, unblock them, take the pressure off them, it wouldn't be a luxury. “It’s very good for them, for us, for the teamsays Joao Neves about the success of Ramos and Doué on Tuesday. But whether it is the attackers, the midfielders or the goalkeeper who score, the most important thing is that PSG wins.. And the Portuguese midfielder added: “We have to adapt, with a real 9 or a false 9. Our game changes in this situation. In any case, I am very happy for Gonçalo and for the three points”. All that remains is to confirm. Against City and Stuttgart in C1, at the start of the year, but also against Lyon, Monaco and Lens to end 2024.