Successfully slowed down! This top striker does less for more | OneFootball

At the Parc des Princes, the star-studded ensemble of Paris Saint-Germain and its supporters were left stunned as Racing Club de Strasbourg had them on the brink of defeat. The outstanding player was double-scorer Joaquín Panichelli.

With refreshing audacity, the striker from Argentina, in only his eighth Ligue 1 match, shook up the status quo of PSG’s dominance. And he did it right in their own backyard. 

Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior actually doesn’t like to single out individual players, according to his own statements, but in an interview with 'L'Équipe' after the 3-3 draw in Paris, he apparently couldn’t help himself: “I’ve never seen a number 9 play a game like that,” he enthused.

He went on to describe his striker as “an incredible focal point, who has an unbelievable heading game and is able to physically dominate the Parisian defense while also actively participating in the build-up play.” Although, too much activity isn’t exactly what Rosenior wants from Panichelli in particular. But more on that later. 

Panichelli is definitely one of the reasons why Strasbourg has had its best start to a season in decades and is currently lurking just two points behind France’s perennial champions, within striking distance. With nine goals in ten games, he leads the Ligue 1 scoring chart.

The Argentine doesn’t just score for fun, but does so spectacularly. Against PSG, he netted the most beautiful header his coach has “ever witnessed live in a stadium,” and on his Conference League debut, he served up what the French usually reserve for especially festive occasions – Croquembouche, French for “crunches in the mouth.”

His goal against the Polish club Jagiellonia Białystok was probably even more than an explosion of flavor. At the very least, it was the most spectacular goal of the European cup season so far. 

The development of the 23-year-old is truly impressive. Especially when you consider that just about six months ago, he was still playing in Spain’s second division. 

In January 2023, Panichelli took the leap from his homeland to Europe. He barely got any playing time with River Plate’s reserves. The same story in Spain at Deportivo Alavés. But his loan spell at CD Mirandés in LaLiga 2 turned out to be a springboard to France’s top flight. With 29 goal involvements in 44 games, he caught the attention of Racing Club. They invested €16.5 million, the second-highest transfer fee in the club’s history. 

Even the Strasbourg management probably never dreamed that the Argentine’s transfer would pay off so quickly. Panichelli needed little time to adapt, even though his new coaching staff literally slowed him down.

“He’s a top player. We worked intensively with him during preseason to reduce his running workload,” explained Racing coach Rosenior at the last press conference after the match against AJ Auxerre.

Panichelli is a striker who likes to get involved in play, covering many kilometers. He was used to investing so much in running that sometimes he lacked the decisive final meters. At least, that’s the analysis of his new coaching staff, which is why he has slightly adjusted his work rate. It’s now much more about efficiency.

“He has oriented his game towards decisive positioning. I’m very happy to have him in the team,” said Rosenior about his protégé’s successful development. 

It’s been so successful that he’s been able to improve his already good goal tally and is now tearing up Ligue 1. So it’s no surprise that his name keeps coming up in the Argentine media when it comes to the future of the national team.

When asked about it, he said on the ESPN podcast ‘GeneraciónF’: “I’m in a good phase right now. The national team? That’s always a dream for every footballer, but especially for an Argentine. There’s nothing more beautiful than that opportunity.” 

National coach Lionel Scaloni hasn’t picked up the phone yet, but if the striker can maintain his outstanding form, it’s probably only a matter of time. With the Albiceleste, he could even learn from the grandmaster of efficiency. After all, Lionel Messi has perfected the game with reduced running in his career. 

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

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors