Ramos fails to convince on PSG opener on Japansese tour vs Kawasaki Frontale
Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos struggled as part of a three-man central defence as PSG got their preseason tour underway in Japan.
After a torrid season due to injuries, Sergio Ramos seems to have left behind the continuous discomfort he suffered in his first year with PSG having left Real Madrid. The Spanish defender, who has one year left on his contract with the French club, wants to show PSG head coach Christophe Galtier in the pre-season that he can be a key man in the new PSG project. The Parisians opened their Japanese tour this Wednesday with an insipid 1-2 victory against Kawasaki Frontale.
However, Ramos still has a long way to go before he gets back to competitive rhythm. Although it is true that the Tokyo Stadium had extremely high humidity and weather conditions that were not conducive to playing a soccer match, the defender was one of the players who struggled the most in PSG’s first half. Galtier has implemented a system of three central defenders with wide men, Achraf and Nuno, who leave the defensive line unprotected due to their desire to go and put pressure further up the pitch, leading Ramos in trouble as he doesn’t have the speed or physicality of his best years at Real Madrid. The Andalusian defender was unable to control Kawasaki winger Frontale, Marcinho, who had three clear goal opportunities after attacking Ramos at speed.
Le Parisien unhappy with Ramos
In fact French outlet Le Parisien, which highlights Galtier’s system of three central defenders, notes Ramos’s problems, although is in favour of the new coach’s tactics, saying that although it requires some tweaking “especially on the wings, where Achraf Hakimi left space for the Japanese forwards, or in the center, where Ramos sometimes had problems coordinating with his teammates, the system is destined to last over time”.
PSG want Skriniar
The fact PSG are trying to sign Skriniar for a significant sum - they are offering $50 million (the dollar and the euro are level at the moment) but Inter Milan are asking for 70, can be seen as a clear message to Ramos about what he needs to do to be in the starting lineup.
Initially, the PSG, mainly the Qatari bosses wanted to get rid of him, but the player’s intention to continue and the few injuries he has had since March have made them change their minds. At the moment, the former Real Madrid player is having difficulty adapting to a system he barely knows. All eyes now turn to the game on Saturday, against Urawa Reds, to see if things improve.