Barcola as PSG’s new number 9: Franck Passi has major doubts | OneFootball

Bradley Barcola, the 23-year-old forward for Paris Saint-Germain, delivered a strong performance on Saturday night during the victory against Le Havre (0-1, 24th matchday of Ligue 1). Some see him as a long-term solution, but Franck Passi, who knew him as Laurent Blanc’s assistant at Lyon, expressed his reservations to the newspaper Le Parisien.

There may be some exaggeration here, since Barcola shouldn’t be summed up solely by his speed and ability to exploit space. Also, playing in possession against a low block isn’t just about passing or dribbling. Having a fast game to destabilize the defense is also an asset.

In this match, it was noticeable that the forward was able to alternate between dropping deep and making runs in behind. He’s also capable of going for the shot or the decisive pass. It’s an option for PSG, especially in light of coach Luis Enrique’s desire for versatility and unpredictability.

However, it’s true that we shouldn’t get carried away too quickly or put unnecessary pressure on him. Barcola will have to confirm his abilities in other matches and will likely keep his profile, which is not that of a “goal-scoring number 9.” When it comes to statistics, for example, we should also look at assists. He was close to providing two in this match, if his teammates had been more efficient.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.