“psg is going to be a big threat in the champions league ... · neymar and mbappe. bayern munich...

news on your phone: kickoff.com/mobile DECEMBER 2017 61 “The most attractive players to buy are the strikers,” continues McCarthy, who cost Blackburn €6 million (R94-million) to secure his services from Porto 11 years ago. “Your Mbappes, Ronaldos, Neymars and Messis of this world - those are the players you want to buy! “But then you also struggle to buy the likes of Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane – your top-end defenders. There is always going to be that unbalance in the team. Going forward, PSG’s attack will always be unbelievable, but at the back, they will always have a frail defence. If only teams or managers could try and balance their squads by buying as many good defenders as they have attackers, then you know you are going to make life difficult for most teams. “PSG have Thiago Silva. Not that he is a bad player, he is top-class, but he is not as good as when he was at Milan. At Milan, he was unbelievable, and he is getting older. Management got rid of David Luiz, but they have Marquinhos, who is a very young player, but he is not as established in European football. He doesn’t have the calibre of Sergio Ramos or your top-ten defenders that you find. He isn’t there yet. “However, PSG is going to be a big threat in the Champions League irrespective of their frailty in defence, as I still think they are strong enough. They can outscore most teams.” Perhaps the French capital outfit is relying on the good old saying, “The best defence is a good offence”, which would explain their willingness to part ways with over €300 million (R4.7 billion) in order to sign Neymar and Mbappe. Bayern Munich Bayern Munich will, imaginably, be the biggest team to put that philosophy to the test after being drawn with PSG in Group B, before then being humbled 3-0 by the French side which resulted in the sacking of head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Bavarians enjoyed a productive transfer window where they reinforced wisely by spending €103m (R1.5 billion) to strengthen their midfield department, while leaving the rest of the areas largely untouched. McCarthy believes that the Bavarians will always be amongst the favourites to add their “PSG IS GOING TO BE A BIG THREAT IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR FRAILTY IN DEFENCE.” Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon (on the ground) and teammate Leonardo Bonucci ponder one of the four Real Madrid goals scored against them during the Champions League Final. Manchester City coach, Josep Guardiola, instructs David Silva, as Bernardo Silva prepares to come on during a Champions League match against SSC Napoli. Real coach Zidane (right) and Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, who is preparing to bolster his squad in January, give instructions from the sideline during their Champions League semi-final.

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news on your phone: kickoff.com/mobile DEcEMbEr 2017 61

“The most attractive players to buy are the strikers,” continues McCarthy, who cost Blackburn €6 million (R94-million) to secure his services from Porto 11 years ago. “Your Mbappes, Ronaldos, Neymars and Messis of this world - those are the players you want to buy!

“But then you also struggle to buy the likes of Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane – your top-end defenders. There is always going to be that unbalance in the team. Going forward, PSG’s attack will always be unbelievable, but at the back, they will always have a frail defence. If only teams or managers could try and balance their squads by buying as many good defenders as they have attackers, then you

know you are going to make life difficult for most teams.

“PSG have Thiago Silva. Not that he is a bad player, he is top-class, but he is not as good as when he was at Milan. At Milan, he was unbelievable, and he is getting older. Management got rid of David Luiz, but they have Marquinhos, who is a very young player, but he is not as established in European football. He doesn’t have the calibre of Sergio Ramos or your top-ten defenders that you find. He isn’t

there yet.“However, PSG is going to be

a big threat in the Champions League irrespective of their frailty in defence, as I still think they are strong enough. They can outscore most teams.”

Perhaps the French capital outfit is relying on the good old saying, “The best defence is a good offence”, which would explain their willingness to part ways with over €300 million (R4.7 billion) in order to sign Neymar and Mbappe.

bayern Munich Bayern Munich will, imaginably,

be the biggest team to put that philosophy to the test after being drawn with PSG in Group B, before then being humbled 3-0 by the French side which resulted in the sacking of head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Bavarians enjoyed a productive transfer window where they reinforced wisely by spending €103m (R1.5 billion) to strengthen their midfield department, while leaving the rest of the areas

largely untouched. McCarthy believes

that the Bavarians will always be amongst the

favourites to add their

“PSG iS GoinG to be a biG threat in the ChamPionS LeaGue irreSPeCtive of their fraiLty in defenCe.”

Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon (on the ground) and teammate Leonardo Bonucci ponder one of the four Real Madrid goals scored against them during the Champions League Final.

Manchester City coach, Josep Guardiola, instructs David Silva, as Bernardo Silva prepares to come on

during a Champions League match against SSC Napoli.

Real coach Zidane (right) and Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, who is preparing to bolster his squad in January, give instructions

from the sideline during their Champions League semi-final.