Was Joining PSG a wrong Decision for Wijnaldum?

Was Joining PSG a wrong Decision for Wijnaldum: Following criticism for his performance levels in the Champions League, the Netherlands midfielder has only made one start since the first round.


Paris Saint-first Germain's Champions League encounter of the season against Club Brugge was a mismatch, as most observers predicted. But not in the way that had been expected.


PSG were supposed to blast the Belgians away with their quality, but the home side's energy and tenacity prevented that. Brugge humiliated PSG's midfield, with Hans Vanaken, a 29-year-old Belgian who is largely unknown outside of his homeland, dominating opponents who have been at the top of the game for years.

                               


Philippe Clement's team proved a fortnight later that the 1-1 draw was no fluke by beating RB Leipzig away, but the scars of the evening have lingered in France.


Mauricio Pochettino's side were thrashed in both the mental and physical aspects of the game, and it's no coincidence that Leandro Parades and Georginio Wijnaldum, two of the three starting midfielders who were found wanting in all areas of the game, have made just one start each since that humiliating experience.


More was expected of Wijnaldum, who had arrived as a free agent in the summer with a lot of potential.
After all, the Netherlands international appeared to bring the type of box-to-box ability that PSG's midfield lacked earlier.


Wijnaldum, who was given an emotional guard of honour when he chose to leave Liverpool at the conclusion of last season and was pursued by Barcelona, was expected to provide energy and at least some attacking threat.

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Following criticism for his performance levels in the Champions League, the Netherlands midfielder has only made one start since the first round.


Pochettino's default system was modified to a 4-2-3-1 after Lionel Messi's arrived, denying the ex-Newcastle man the chance to play in his finest role.


Meanwhile, players returning late from international duty, notably PSG's European champions Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma, as well as a slew of South Americans, hampered the start of the season.


"Wijnaldum needs to come up with a solution. I'm attempting to play the role of the devil's advocate. You have to acknowledge that he wasn't very good when he played."


PSG and Wijnaldum have been hampered by the annual autumn international breaks, with Wijnaldum's only appearance since the Brugge thrashing coming in a 2-1 Ligue 1 triumph over bottom-placed Metz in Tuesday.


Others, though, have adjusted to this stop-start pattern better than Wijnaldum, whose struggles in Paris have been emphasized by reports that he is on the verge of leaving. Everyone at PSG has had a difficult start to the season, but no one has had it harder than Wijnaldum.