With Messi's passing achievements, Paris came out of the haze of two consecutive defeats in Ligue 1. However, in the next round they will face second-placed Lens in the league at their home ground.
In the last meeting, Lens beat Paris 3-1 away. Argentine iron guard Medina summed up after the game: "They lacked the best player in the world (when Messi was absent). This time again, Medina plans to "put Mbappe in the ambulance", the Argentine international, obviously has his own "title plan".
01. Maradona's hometown: Unfortunately, I didn't win the World Cup
a. Quasi-00 Iron Guard: It is Maradona's little fellow
Born on May 28, 1999, Medina, like Maradona, comes from a poor family in Vera Fiorito, Argentina.
To support her son's football dreams, his mother worked several jobs to make ends meet. Medina did not disappoint his family either, being selected for the River Plate Academy at the age of 12.
Starting as a striker and then progressing at left-back and centre-back, he moved to Talleres to improve quickly and was selected for Argentina's U20 and U23 national teams, although he did not get a chance in the first team of River Plate.
In 2019, Medina helped Argentina win the 2019 Pan American Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic South American Qualifiers, making his name more known.
b. Transfer to Ligue 1: just one step away from the members of the World Cup-winning team
Before being picked up by Ligue 1 Lens, Talares finally "got his wish". He returned to River Plate to represent Talleres at the Monument Race.
His confession gave a glimpse of his emotional side: "Thanks to River Plate, I was brought from a small town to a great stadium and made me realize my football dream since I was a child." ”
After coming to Lens, Medina gradually gained a foothold step by step. From full-back in the three-centre-back system to full-back at the back four, he can do it all.
Lens also renewed his contract in a timely manner, extending it until 2026.
As early as the age of 21, Medina made his international debut. In the World Qualifiers against Bolivia, he helped Argentina win away from home in the plateau for the first time in 15 years.
At the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022, Medina became the replacement option for Alenia if he could not play.
Unfortunately, Sevilla left-back eventually insisted on playing, leaving Medina with only the TV to watch Messi and Argentina lift the World Cup trophy.
02. The last meeting made Mbappe grimmed: but he would not have fouled Messi
a. There will be no foul on Messi & Mbappe will be sent to an ambulance
Although he was not a champion member of the Argentine national team, Medina was still happy for his country's victory.
"After Argentina won the World Cup, I was training in France for the whole week wearing Messi's shirt!"
In the next Ligue 1 game, Paris will face the challenge of Lens at home. In the interview, Medina said that Messi and Mbappe have very different attitudes: "Messi is on the pitch, I will not foul him, and at the same time I will go over and give him a hug because he won the Copa America for Argentina and the World Cup. ”
"But what if you meet Mbappe? Then just drive them in an ambulance! ”
It is worth mentioning that when the first round of the league met, Messi and Neymar in Paris were absent from the game.
Kylian Mbappe led the team to a 3-1 defeat and performed extremely badly. I wonder if things will be different this time with Messi's help?
b. Last meeting: Jean Mbappe could not come off stage
Although Medina didn't have many opportunities to talk to Kylian Mbappe as a left-back centre-back, he was still quite outstanding in that game.
Completed the team's highest number of touches (70), the most successful passes (56), while making 4 clearances and 0 passes.
In that game, because Messi and Neymar were not there, Mbappe wanted to show himself too much, taking on a lot of promotion and attacking work, but the effect was very poor.
Kylian Mbappe, who dribbled forward after retreating, kept losing possession. He is still inefficient in long-distance dribbling and lacks effective passing.
This time Ashraf crossed strongly, and Mbappe wanted to show off his skills in the middle of the box, but the ball was broken without suspense.
Even Ekitik's equaliser goal could not have prevented Paris from losing 3-1.
Mbappe made a total of 12 attempts at the time, only two of which were successful (red dots). Once in the backfield of the local side, once near the halfway line, the strong breakthrough in the core area all ended in failure.
03. It's about Ligue 1 titles: Paris don't have much room for error
a. Ligue 1 Team of the Year in the last round: Medina is a defender with a knife
In the last round of Ligue 1, Lens beat Strasbourg 2-1. Not only did Medina contribute a team-high 106 touches, four clearances and nine regains, but also scored one goal and had the most passes on the team (86).
So far this season, Medina has scored two goals and three assists as a central defender. Because of his duties as a full-back, he has many opportunities to press into the core area before the second attack.
The Ligue 1 goal in the last round was cleared for the first point of his cross, and his shot from the outside bounced off the net after hitting the post.
Defensively, Medina is more flexible and can cover the wings and edge of the box. It not only has a certain ability to traverse and solve the fence, but also can jam the rib space. This time the turn and breaking the ball is an example.
b. Ligue 1 Team of the Year in the last round: Medina is a defender with a knife
The Argentina internationals performed well overall after the World Cup. This head-to-head dialogue between Paris and Lens could also determine the Ligue 1 champions.
As far as the stadium position is concerned, Medina has fewer opportunities to play against Mbappe, but it is easier to play against Messi. I don't know if in the face of his idol, he will really only hug and not foul.
Lens is the team that conceded the fewest goals in Ligue 1, conceding just 22 goals in the first 30 rounds. I don't know if Paris can avenge the 1-3 defeat in the first round this time on their home turf.
Mbappe has been in average form lately, is he scared by Medina's "cruel words"? Or is it shameful and courageous, ushering in a strong rebound?
Conclusion:
The success of Akanji and Ake at Manchester City shows that defenders who can swing between central defenders and full-backs can currently bring greater tactical value.
In particular, Medina has a certain offensive ability that can bring more changes at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends. Perhaps getting closer to the Ligue 1 title will give him a better chance of being selected for the Argentine national team as a new option under the team's three-centre-back system in the Copa America.