Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain: Is Marquinhos more important than Mbappe and Neymar to PSG?

When Paris Saint-Germain step out at Old Trafford with their Champions League campaign on the line against Manchester United, the spotlight will fall on a familiar duo.

Despite his side’s run to the 2019-20 final, Kylian Mbappe has not found the net in the competition since December last year against Galatasaray.

Two wins and two defeats from their four group stage games this time around means it would be the ideal time for the France forward to end that drought and point a clear path to the knockout stages.

Having come so close last time around, failure to get out of the group might be the final nail in Neymar’s dream of bringing Champions League glory to the French capital.

However, the man who carries the greatest weight when it comes to the fortunes of Thomas Tuchel’s side might just reside at the other end of the field.

Marquinhos stepping into Silva’s shoes

Since the departure of long-serving captain Thiago Silva at the end of last season, Marquinhos appears increasingly crucial to PSG’s prospects

Having taken the armband from his fellow Brazil international, the 26-year-old centre-back has shown he can be just as influential – most recently in last week’s 1-0 win over RB Leipzig.

“Playing higher was also the plan against Leipzig but it was not possible,” Tuchel said when pondering the potential tactical approach against United.

“If the game requires playing low, we have to provide answers on the pitch. That is why it was necessary to find defensive solutions against Leipzig.”

Marquinhos was the man who came up with the answers more often than not, making three interceptions, seven recoveries and conceding a solitary foul over the course of the 90 minutes.

FULL-TIME: @PSG_English 1-0 @RBLeipzig_EN

A very important three points in the @ChampionsLeague secured! #PSGRBL pic.twitter.com/4mIv432IiK

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 24, 2020

What happens to PSG when their skipper is not around this season is perhaps even more instructive.

He sat out the opening two games of the Ligue 1 season with coronavirus, with Tuchel’s threadbare squad suffering back-to-back 1-0 losses versus Lens and Marseille.

Marquinhos’ return sparked a run of eight consecutive victories domestically. He missed the 4-0 win over Nimes due to an adductor complaint, which also ruled him out of the 2-1 home reverse against United.

Either side of his heroics against Leipzig, Marquinhos looked on as PSG lost 3-2 at Monaco before being held to a 2-2 draw by Bordeaux last weekend.

Dominating from central areas

As well as being PSG’s premier centre-back, over the past 18 months, Marquinhos has also made a strong case for being their best holding midfielder, presenting Tuchel with plenty to ponder before a game where stopping United’s counter-attacking threat is likely to be vital.

“I’m not going to answer you now,” he told reporters when asked which position Marquinhos would take up.

“This is also a question that [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer is very interested in, so I can’t tell you.”

#MUPSG

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