Julien Laurens on playing Kylian Mbappe left or central against Barcelona and 'generational' Pau Cubarsi - Eurosport

A specialist from TNT Sports, Julien Laurens, believes that Kylian Mbappe, the star player of PSG, would fare better if he played in the left position than in the center.

There has been a continuous argument about whether Mbappe can successfully adapt to playing as a striker despite making a name for himself on the left throughout his career.

Before the first match in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona in Paris, Laurens shared his thoughts with TNTSports.co.uk. He reckons that the left side might suit Mbappe and PSG better. You can catch the game live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Laurens stated that she favors him on the left because it's the position he likes to occupy.

In my opinion, he excels in both positions, and I comprehend why he would opt for the left side, as it gives him the opportunity to receive the ball while front-facing the goal and his opponent, rather than being a striker.

Many times, you may need to hold onto the ball while defenders and the goal are positioned behind you. I understand the reason why this happens, as the player in question does not focus much on defending.

A supervisor might consider, 'alright, I require you to play in the middle because otherwise, I won't be able to execute my defensive strategies effectively.'

"He has shown great skills in playing as a striker in some games, while his performance as a left-winger has been decent in some games too. However, I am unsure whether to compare and judge them equally."

Regarding other potential strikers for PSG, Laurens suggested that he slightly favors Goncalo Ramos over Randal Kolo Muani, who is still settling in due to his late arrival. However, Laurens acknowledged that Muani just needs some time to adjust and believes he will perform well in due course.

In my opinion, if Luis Enrique were managing against Barcelona, he would have a difficult decision to make. He could choose to play Kylian in the center and put Bradley on the left side (if Bradley is healthy). This would mean that Barcola, now facing right-back Jules Kounde, could potentially have a favorable match-up that PSG could take advantage of.

"If you choose to have Kylian on the left, then it's possible that Ronald Araujo will shift to right-back position. This will result in Kounde playing as the centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsi. We can then observe the outcome of this strategy. Personally, I believe that Ramos will be positioned in the middle while Kylian plays on the left."

Laurens is extremely impressed with Cubarsi, the emerging star of Barca. The talented young player is being hailed as a "generational talent" due to his excellent performances. Laurens is particularly impressed with Cubarsi's ability to maintain a perfect balance with his passing game from his central defender position.

Additionally, he stated that despite the negative impact of the team's injured midfielders on Barcelona's performance, it has allowed Ilkay Gundogan to showcase his skills and perform at his highest level.

I believe they've discovered a truly remarkable talent in Pau Cubarsi, who possesses exceptional skills as a defender. His abilities are simply unbelievable.

It's quite impressive that this is only his second time playing in the Champions League. He has certainly made a positive impact with his superb distribution and passing. Araujo doesn't have the ability to play long passes like Cubarsi does, so now they have a way to break through the opposing team's defense.

If Cubarsi competes against a team that keeps a high position on the field, he can spot an opportunity to pass the ball to any player sprinting forward, particularly if the player is advancing from the center of the field."

I'm not entirely convinced about Christensen as the number six, but he is currently fulfilling his duties adequately. Gundogan, on the other hand, seems to be playing more boldly and with greater self-assurance."

In my opinion, he has become more comfortable in the team now that he doesn't have to split playing time with Gavi, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong when they're all healthy.

Currently, Christensen is not the type of person who will possess the ball frequently, and neither is Fermin inclined to do so. Fermin is a high-energy individual who makes impressive runs and displays great intensity during gameplay.

So, who exactly is in control of the ball now? The answer is Gundogan. When he has the freedom to move around on the field, he is able to position himself as a number 10 or number 8, or even drop back and assist Christensen as a number 6. This tactic has proven to be quite effective for him.

When it comes to PSG as a complete team, Laurens is positive about the goals that manager Luis Enrique is striving for. However, occasionally the Spaniard tends to make things more complicated than necessary.

I find it fascinating because I'm sort of in the middle of the situation here. You see, Luis Enrique's recent strategies have been spot on and successful. I have observed numerous tactics being utilized specifically on the right-hand side with players like Hakimi and Dembele. There have been plenty of remarkable accomplishments.

Occasionally, I still notice that the team can be vulnerable defensively, especially when they send many players forward and attempt to press high up the pitch. Luis Enrique places great value on counter pressing, but if the opposition manages to break through the initial line of pressing, it can leave the team exposed and outnumbered, making it more challenging to defend.

Back in December, Luis Enrique had made a statement stating that the team would improve in February and March. I'm not entirely convinced if they have indeed gotten better. Nevertheless, I do acknowledge that there are players like Vitinha who have taken a significant leap in their performance and is likely to become an exceptional player in the near future.

Kylian is clearly on a level where he could potentially be considered the top player in the world. This is acceptable, and other individuals have also risen to the occasion.

Take a glance at Lucas Beraldo, who made his debut in January after coming from Brazil. He has been performing outstandingly as a centre-back. His excellent distribution skills, and the ability to break the lines with passes, are remarkable attributes. Despite a somewhat sluggish style, he has been diligent and productive. If he had a bit more speed, he would be considered perfect.

I currently have a more optimistic attitude than I did in November and December. During that time, the team had a tough time playing away from home, particularly against Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle. However, I believe that the team is not too far from reaching a higher level of consistency.

In my opinion, Luis Enrique can sometimes overcomplicate things just to appear clever. I believe that sometimes you don't need to be overly imaginative or creative with tactics.

The strategy for facing Real Sociedad was executed flawlessly, and I had the opportunity to witness it firsthand. I thought to myself, "Wow, this is a brilliant performance." However, there have been instances where the approach taken didn't yield desirable outcomes, perhaps even due to the coach's own decision-making. Greater reliability would be beneficial, but I believe things are headed in the right direction.

What is Laurens' prediction for the outcome of the tie? "I believe that PSG has the advantage, with a likelihood of 55-45 or 60-40."

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