Bradley Barcola is ‘first substitute’ for PSG, but deserves more
PSG's Bradley Barcola is one of Luis Enrique's most-used players, but in Champions League knockouts, he's still the first substitute.
Bradley Barcola is one of the most-used players this season by PSG head coach Luis Enrique. But in the Champions League, he is still a substitute in the big matches.
PSG have very good players in their attacking unit. In Luis Enrique’s system, there are only three spots in attack.
And in the big Ligue 1 and Champions League matches, the Parisian coach almost always starts the same trio: Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Barcola, 23, is often the first substitute to come onto the pitch. Internally, Barcola is viewed as the one “who carried PSG on his shoulders” when Kvaratskhelia, 25, seemed out of form, when Doué’s, 20, excessive individualism was being criticized, during a period when Dembélé, 28, sidelined by physical issues, was also unavailable.
The numbers do not lie. With 10 goals and two assists in 26 Ligue 1 appearances (18 starts), according to L’Équipe.
Beyond the lack of external recognition he may feel, the most frustrating part may lie elsewhere: despite his importance being recognized internally, his status has barely evolved in the matches that matter, according to the cited outlet.
Last season, Barcola had already been affected by Doué’s emergence in the spring. This year, it was a left ankle sprain at Stamford Bridge that halted his momentum. Within the entourage of PSG’s No. 29, there are now fears of a scenario that has already been experienced.
Last season, Barcola was the man of the match in the Coupe de France final before starting on the bench a week later in the Champions League final against Inter Milan (5-0), L’Équipe concluded.
