"Lee Kang-in fake number 9 → There was no possibility of causing trouble at all." 英The media lashed out
Oct 02, 2024
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PSG lost 0-2 to Arsenal in the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League League Phase at Arsenal Stadium in London on the 2nd (Korea time).
Global sports media 'The Athletic' pointed out that Lee Kang-in led the line with a fake number 9, but he couldn't hide anything.
Lee Kang-in led 4-3-3 on the front line. Played the role of zero top or fake number 9. Made up a three-top with Desire du and Bradley Barcola. João Neves, Vitinya and Warren Zaire-Emery were in charge of the midfield. The Back 4 consisted of Nuno Mendes, William Pacho, Marquiños, and Ashraf Hakimi. Gianluigi Donnarumma defended the goal.
Fake No. 9 is a playmaker pretending to be 'real No. 9'. After staying at the front line, he slowly comes down to the second line to attract defenders to create space. It is a tactic in which wingers, fullbacks or other second-line agents penetrate here and seek a chance.
Lee Kang-in fits well with fake No. 9 because he has excellent repression ability, good ball guard, and excellent creative passes. In fact, Lee Kang-in played various positions from PSG to wing forward, midfielder, and offensive midfielder. PSG coach Luis Enrique recently used Lee Kang-in as a fake No. 9 in League 1. Lee Kang-in received a passing point for performing a fake No. 9 mission very well against Stadren. As a result, it was also used in the match against Arsenal in the Champions League.
But it didn't work at all against Arsenal. Rather, Lee Kang-in was often isolated. Even when Lee Kang-in came down and received the ball, Arsenal's space did not open very easily. While PSG's offensive work was loose, Arsenal's defensive organization moved very organically, so there was no sense of crisis at all.
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Then 'Arnall handled PSG very comfortably. It wasn't surprising that Enrique's first replacement was to include Randall Colo Muani, the traditional No.9,' he said, defining that Lee Kang-in's fake No.9 was a complete failure.
Arsenal led the game. PSG tried to counterattack occasionally, but lacked structure. Arsenal scored the first goal in the 20th minute of the first half. Havertz scored Trossar's cross with a header.
PSG once pushed Arsenal in the middle of the first half. The breakthrough using left and right wingbacks was threatening twice, but it did not lead to an elaborate finish.
The flow of PSG is short-lived. When PSG failed to hit a shot, Arsenal punished him.
Arsenal scored an additional goal in the 35th minute of the first half. Saka kicked a free kick from the right. Saka curled his left foot into the net. The ball that left Saka's foot passed through several rushing players and was sucked into the goal.
Lee Kang-in was busy moving between the center and the right, but it was difficult to exert influence because PSG was completely in control of the midfield.
The pattern of the second half has not changed much either. Lee Kang-in also attempted a mid-range shot from a long distance in the 22nd minute of the second half. He was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the second half extra time, Hakimi was given a technical backheel pass, but was blocked by a foul.
dhhan@sportschosun.com
