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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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Fabian Ruiz of Paris Saint Germain passes the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Fabian Ruiz of Paris Saint Germain passes the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and PSG. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Will Fabian Ruiz’s consistency lead to unexpected changes?

Ruiz had a masterful outing against Ajaccio proving his worth and the value he can add to PSG going forward. Better yet, he seems to have settled into the squad after a middling couple of first months in the French capital.

With Renato Sanches finally back from injury after missing time (although not having his greatest game last Friday) and Carlos Soler still struggling, Ruiz could prove fundamental for Paris Saint-Germain during the span of games yet to be played before the World Cup break.

While the rest of the new pieces joining the project this past summer are still acclimating, it is most probably going to be Ruiz featuring in the bonus midfield position created by the change from the 3-4-3 (with two wing-backs and two midfielders) to the 4-3-3 (with a deep-lying playmaker and two flexible midfielders). Or is he?

That’s the next riddle Galtier will need to solve as he will be presented with the chance of using every returning player (center-backs Presnel Kimpembe and Sergio Ramos, defensive-midfielder/center-back Danilo, left-wing Nuno Mendes, and forward Neymar) and the alternative of discarding some of them in favor of keeping the 4-3-3 formation going with just a few changes.

Neymar will be going straight into Paris Saint-Germain lineups twice a week now that he’s gone through his one-game suspension – for now and unless/until PSG strike when the iron is hot … on Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability if not someone else.

Kimpembe is expected to man the middle of the defensive line along with captain Marquinhos. What about veteran Sergio Ramos? Will he accept a trip back to the end of the bench? Will Danilo also be comfortable getting relegated to a reserve role after having enjoyed a starting spell during the past few games?

Nuno Mendes is the obvious No. 1 left-wing and there is no doubt he will be instantly thrust into the starting lineup. But will the deeper role hurt his projection forward on the attacking phase of the game?

A lot of first-world problems for Galtier to deal with, indeed.

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