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"Thomas Tuchel struggling to control PSG's 'Hollywoodian' dressing room"

French football writer Philippe Auclair joined The Football Show to discuss how PSG manager is ha...



Soccer

"Thomas Tuchel struggling to control PSG's 'Hollywoodian' dressing room"

French football writer Philippe Auclair joined The Football Show to discuss how PSG manager is having a problem controlling the dressing room, after Kylian Mbappé's strop last weekend.

Auclair explained that Mbappé saw fit to 'sulk' after his substitution by Thomas Tuchel at the weekend, in a turn of behaviour that is more reminiscent of his teammate Neymar than of the Frenchman.

"It is typical PSG - it is a storm in a teacup, but it is true that there is a problem between the player and the manager.

"In fact, there is a problem between the manager and a number of players in what I would call a 'Hollywoodian' dressing room.

"It is bizarre, because if you look at what has happened this season with Mbappé - he has been good. He has perhaps not been transcendently good, but he has been injured for a while."

PSG upheaval

Auclair believes there is a discrepancy between Mbappé's grievance and reality.

"Mbappé's camp claim that he has been subbed more often, and earlier, than the other Galacticos. But if you look at it, he has been substituted once in the last eight Ligue 1 games."

It is a problem that is likely to recur.

"He has got more than the four Galacticos, he has got Mauro Icardi, he has got Angel Di Maria - he needs to have a balanced team, and it is very difficult to do that and manage the egos at the same time."

Meanwhile, in a perhaps surprising turn of events, Neymar has put aside the transfer uncertainty of the summer to become the most important player for PSG.

"He has been fantastic. You see when he is not on the pitch how PSG struggle, how they lack invention, penetration and imagination.

"But much more than that, his stats have been absolutely superb. His goals have been magnificent.

"When he came back from injury, he was out there putting his mark on every game he was in."

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Neymar Soccer Thomas Tuchel