All the talk about Paris Saint-Germain’s exit in the Champions League has been whether it would have been a different story had star man Neymar been able to play. But what about PSG’s World Cup winner?
It seems a long time since Julian Draxler was wheeling away in celebration having scored against Barcelona for Paris St. Germain in the Last 16 of the Champions League. In truth, only 12 months separate that moment from Tuesday night, when PSG exited the competition at the same stage for the second successive year. This time though, Draxler played a very different part.
With 20 minutes to go in the second leg, Draxler was about to be brought on. Then PSG scored, head coach Unai Emery pulled Draxler back before eventually throwing him on six minutes later. Draxler said afterwards he didn’t understand the decision because a 1-1 scoreline wasn’t going to help PSG progress.
“I was surprised and a bit peeved,” the 24-year-old added while speaking to German public broadcaster ZDF.
Draxler went on to criticize Emery’s tactical approach to the game, saying the team lacked intensity.
“You need to put pressure on Real Madrid when you are losing 3-1, not just make passes and hope something falls from the sky,” he said.
In a strange way it was as if the Germany international was talking about a group and a team he wasn’t even part of – and perhaps that tells the truth of the story.
A more mature player
In his first year in Paris, Draxler appeared to swap his Bundesliga strop for French sweat. Having followed it up with an excellent outing in the Confederations Cup with Germany last summer, when he not only captained his country to victory but was also named player of the tournament, Draxler appeared to have found his way.
But then came Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. All of a sudden, the club’s most expensive signing from the previous season was little more than a footnote at France’s biggest club. Perhaps a testament to his growing maturity, Draxler’s response was not to pout. Emery rewarded him with minutes – but in central midfield. For all Draxler’s quality, it is not the position he excels in.
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