In the French Super Cup, which kicked off on August 2, this match was just an appetizer before the feast of the new league season. Although Paris Saint-Germain lost 0-1 to Lille, the defeat did not seem to give them much hope for the trophy. However, the first signs of a crisis may already be growing!
The financially strong Paris, with a star-studded lineup, is never stingy in the transfer market. Players who did not perform well in the preseason may face the fate of being sold, and even if they stay, they may lose their starting positions.
Icardi on the front line, for example, after joining the Ligue 1, his performance is not even as good as his own in the Serie A period, compared with Ibe, Cavani is even farther away. Not even as good as halfway from Everton loan, before the small Keane in the Serie A can not play on the ball. Rumor has it that Allegri had wanted to exchange Crow for Icardi with Paris, and Mourinho also admired Icardi. Had it not been for Crowe's high salary and Roma's inability to provide a sufficient transfer fee, perhaps the relevant negotiations would have already begun.
Taking goalkeeper Navas as an example again, he has been a starter since joining Paris from Real Madrid. However, judging by Navas' recent preseason performance, it is likely that he will lose his starting position to newcomer Junior Donnarumma when the new season begins.
On July 17, Paris drew 2:2 in a friendly with FC Chambly, who had just been relegated from Ligue 2 to Ligue 3, in a friendly match.
On July 22, Grand Paris beat lower-middle Bundesliga side Augsburg 2-1 in a friendly.
On July 28, Paris drew 2:2 with La Liga rivals Sevilla.
On August 2, in the French Super Cup, Grand Paris defeated last season's Ligue 1 champion Lille by 0:1.
In just half a month, four matches, Paris starting goalkeeper Navas guarded the door was attacked six goals, and none of the shutout.July 25, Paris in a friendly 1:0 win over the French C team Orléans, to achieve a shutout, but Navas only played half the game.
The best goalkeeper in La Liga in the 2013-14 season and responsible for Colombia's run to the last eight of the 2014 Copa Internacional, Navas was brought in by Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 as a replacement for Casillas.
In the summer of 2015, Casillas returned to Real Madrid, Real Madrid tried to bring in De Gea from Manchester United, and Navas' prospects at Real Madrid became bleak. However, as the transfer window was about to close, Real Madrid's formalities went awry, Casillas eventually left, and De Gea did not arrive, leaving Navas as Real Madrid's No. 1 goalkeeper.
But Navas stood firm at Real Madrid with his strength. Without his many saves, Real Madrid coached by Zinedine Zidane could not have accomplished three consecutive Champions League titles.
In the summer of 2018, Real Madrid brought in the young and talented Courtois, who is also a goalkeeper, and Navas was naturally reduced to the number two goalkeeper. A year later, Navas moved to Paris.
In Paris, Navas is still the world's top goalkeeper level. In last season's Champions League knockout round, Navas completed 9 saves in the 1/8 final second round, if not for his outstanding performance, Paris really may be home by Barcelona overturned. quarter-final first round away from Bayern, Navas completed 10 saves, to help the Paris 3:2 narrowly won.
The situation is now, again, similar to Navas' final season at Real Madrid. The arrival of former AC Milan goalkeeper Donnarumma, the Euro 2020 Player of the Year, has made it impossible for Paris to bench the young Italian international, who earns 12 million euros a year, but it will take an opportunity to make him a starter.
At the start of the new season, Pochettino could always start Donnarumma in his place if Navas' performances continue to be poor in recent times. It's even possible that Donnarumma could be given the start straight away, with Navas on the bench or looking for an opportunity in a cup game. After all, losing the Ligue 1 title last season had something to do with the two consecutive losses in the opening game, even though Navas wasn't the keeper at the time. In order to grab the opening in the new season, Pochettino must pay attention to the defense, the goalkeeper position must be carefully selected.
