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Lee Kang-in also showed outstanding performance in his new position.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) drew 2-2 with Sturm Graz (Austria) in a pre-season friendly at Wörterje Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria on the 8th (Korea Standard Time). Lee Kang-in received a passing point as he showed good adaptation in his new position.
Ahead of the upcoming season, many were worried about Lee Kang-in. This is because a new competitor has been added to the position where Lee Kang-in should play. PSG has signed Joao Neves, who has emerged as Portugal's top prospect with a strong performance at Benfica this summer.
With Neves' recruitment, there is a possibility that Vitinha, who played an active role in the second half of last season, will be deployed forward. Vitinya showed good performance in the second half of last season even in Europe as a whole. In contrast, Lee Kang-in was behind in the main competition at the end of the season.
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In addition, PSG continues to strengthen its second-line resources. PSG continues to be linked to quality resources, including French prospect Desire du Soe. Since Lee Kang-in played mainly as a side winger and an attacking midfielder in the center last season, the addition of a new second-line resource naturally meant that competition was intensifying.
However, Lee Kang-in's worry was useless. In PSG's first preseason game, Lee Kang-in started. Along with Lee Kang-in, PSG started Gonzalo Hamus, Randal Colomuany, Marco Asensio, Karler Soler, Ibrahim Mdaye, Milan Shkriniar, Lucas Veraldu and Matvei Saponov. Players who participated in Euro 2024 or Copa America 2024 have not yet participated.
PSG coach Luis Enrique gave Lee Kang-in a different role on the day. In the 4-4-2 formation, Lee Kang-in was deployed as a central midfielder with Soler. If Lee Kang-in plays in the center of PSG, he has played an aggressive role mainly when three midfielders are located in the midfield. It is the first time Lee Kang-in has been placed in the center when two midfielders were deployed in the midfield. Whether Enrique is preparing to change Lee Kang-in's new role needs to be watched until PSG is complete.
Lee Kang-in, who played a role of playmaker in the midfield, connected the pass to his teammates with active movements. PSG took the lead with Nbaye's first goal, which was passed by Asensio in the counterattack in the 9th minute of the first half. When Soler's additional goal came out three minutes later, Lee Kang-in's pass shone.
When Colomouani dug to the right, Lee Kang-in broke down the opponent's defense with a fantastic one-touch pass. Colomouani made good use of Lee Kang-in's pass and attacked, and Soler finished lightly. Despite Lee Kang-in's performance, PSG lost a point in vain. PSG prospect Younes El Hanak gave up possession when he had the ball in the back room and lost a point.
PSG was somewhat disappointed in its organizational power, perhaps because it was not the best combination. In the 43rd minute of the first half, the right and center collapsed momentarily and were hit by a mid-range shot. Even though he scored two goals in a short period of time, he gave up two runs, and the first half ended in a tie.
Lee Kang-in also showed a sharp kick from a free kick in the 14th minute of the second half, but his teammate did not finish properly. In the second half, he ran the game by catching more balls in the center. He played until the 27th minute of the second half and was replaced.
Soccer statistics media Sofa Score gave Lee Kang-in 7.6 points, the highest in both teams. In other words, Lee Kang-in performed well despite his somewhat awkward role. The pass accuracy, which is the basic work as a central midfielder, was also very high at 96%. The long pass was also successful five times in six attempts. He also recorded one key pass. Lee Kang-in seems to have no problem with his sense of play.
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The central midfielder in 4-4-2 should be more solid defensively than Lee Kang-in's existing role. Lee Kang-in also overcame 10 out of 13 in the competition scene, showing that he was not pushed back by his strength. He also had stable ball possession, and there were only four turnovers. He also made three tackles.
In fact, the match is likely to be an improvised combination because the PSG squad was not complete. It is more important how coach Enrique will use Lee Kang-in after all the main resources return. Still, it was a harvest to confirm that Lee Kang-in's preseason condition was very good. PSG's next match will be against RB Leipzig on the 11th.
rlaeotlr2024@sportschosun.com
