PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino singled out Marco Verratti for praise and explained his new role against Barcelona. ‘He is truly a great player.’
The Italy international is usually a deeper-lying midfielder, but in the 4-2-3-1 formation this evening at Camp Nou, he was pushed up into the ‘trequartista’ role behind striker Mauro Icardi.
It proved a masterstroke, as Verratti provided an assist for one of the goals in a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick.
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino singled out Marco Verratti for praise and explained his new role against Barcelona. ‘He is truly a great player.’
The Italy international is usually a deeper-lying midfielder, but in the 4-2-3-1 formation this evening at Camp Nou, he was pushed up into the ‘trequartista’ role behind striker Mauro Icardi.
It proved a masterstroke, as Verratti provided an assist for one of the goals in a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick.
“He is a player with a very good ability to read the game,” Pochettino told RMC Sport after a 4-1 victory.
“He allows for us each time to have attacking possession and to bring the ball out into good situations, to better start off attacks.
“In attacking phases, he can double his efforts and provoke situations going forward. For me, he is a truly great player.”
Verratti was also praised by French media, who pointed out he was ‘everywhere’ during the Champions League Round of 16 fixture.
He also managed to avoid a yellow card, which would’ve ruled him out of the second leg on March 10.