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Three questions after PSG beat Ajaccio ahead of clash with Maccabi Haifa

By Antonio Losada

Mbappe celebrates his second goal with Lionel Messi during the match between AC Ajaccio and PSG at Stade Francois Coty on October 21, 2022 in Ajaccio, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Mbappe celebrates his second goal with Lionel Messi during the match between AC Ajaccio and PSG at Stade Francois Coty on October 21, 2022 in Ajaccio, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /
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Paris Saint-Germain's French head coach Christophe Galtier looks on before the French L1 football match between AC Ajaccio and Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo by PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach Christophe Galtier looks on before the match between AC Ajaccio and Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo by PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP via Getty Images) /

Have PSG found their best formation in Galtier’s 4-3-3 system?

It should be clear by now, whether Galtier wants to admit it (in public) or not: changing from his preferred 3-4-3 to a much more classic 4-3-3 has done PSG wonders.

The question to which we will never have an honest answer for is if the change was a forced one because of injuries and suspensions to multiple players, or if Galtier was starting to get a little bit worried by the diminishing production and decided it was time for a fresh start.

Galtier has been quoted saying that he and his team of assistants decided to change the system without specifically considering the health of the players or the red/yellow-card accumulation leaving them out of the squad.

Whatever the case, PSG has refound their mojo of late scoring as many goals as in early August and the first part of the early season. Perhaps, after all, PSG have to thank Mbappe for applying the necessary pressure to Galtier and the board and making them think about these types of changes to keep him happy? Questions, questions…

Even though PSG were not a true bulldozer in their game against Ajaccio, having Messi and Mbappe around (with Neymar out of the matchday squad having seen five yellow cards in Ligue 1 and thus suspended) tends to lead to what happened in Corsica. A bunch of extraordinary chances, a few of those ending in shots on goal, and three of them ultimately kissing the net.

The main beneficiary of the change, though, has definitely been Spain international and summer signee, Fabian Ruiz. The midfielder has put on consecutive shows as a starter for the Parisian in the middle of the pitch next to Verratti and Vitinha (who didn’t start last Friday due to load-managing ahead of Tuesday’s UCL game).

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