PSG: Ramos, the Portuguese patient turns into a “supersub”

"All my decisions are reversible ." One of Luis Enrique's favorite phrases in press conferences. "The idea I want to convey to my players is that there are no regular players in this team," the Parisian coach, a fervent supporter of fierce competition, also likes to repeat. "And next year there will be even more competition. Kvara is coming (from Naples), that will contribute to that, and I'm happy about it. The more rivalry, the better. That means that no one will drop their level of concentration, we want players who never give up," he said again after the 4-2 victory over Manchester City , in response to a question about Gonçalo Ramos, whom he "holds in high esteem" and sees as "a great professional." But not as a regular.

Recruited for €80 million in 2023, Ramos was initially supposed to play with Randal Kolo Muani for the center forward position. Between the traditional adaptation period and an illness at the end of the year, the start of his Parisian adventure was not easy. And Kylian Mbappé finally took on this role. Start of the 2024-25 season, no recruit in 9. And again Ramos let down by his physique, ankle injury on the first day of the championship . In any case, Luis Enrique is not particularly a fan of the center forward profile, clearly preferring the role of false 9, we understood that well... Even after the Portuguese's return, at the end of November, he continued to trust Kang-in Lee and especially Ousmane Dembélé in false 9.

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And since the second named has been walking on water in recent weeks , Ramos, 23, has to make do with crumbs off the bench. Without much prospect of promotion… Unlike other attacking players, he doesn’t have the skills to be bounced from one position to another or from one side to the other. The axis or nothing for this pure-blooded center forward, even if he is both mobile, intelligent in his movements and not stingy with his efforts on the defensive side. The numbers are there: 22 games this season, eight as a starter and therefore 14 off the bench.

Luis Enrique, however, never misses an opportunity to sing the praises of the former Benfica goal scorer. "He's always at full speed, whether he plays 10 or 90 minutes. He should have been the man of the match or Kvava, who was very good. It's Vitinha, it's usual and it will be over the years," said the former Spanish coach after the demonstration against Brest (7-0) , in the return leg of the Champions League play-offs. A remarkable entrance. "For me, it's important to score and make an assist, but the main thing is the team and the victory," said the Portuguese.

Don't count on him to kick over the traces, even if he must regularly bite his lip. "For me, it's always important to play and enjoy every minute," he said again after Brest. Minutes that he makes the most of: Ramos has scored seven of his nine goals this season coming off the bench. He also knows how to be selfless, despite his lack of playing time, and spectacular, like his double backheel on the third Parisian goal, in Lyon (3-2 victory) , on Sunday. Total delight. All after an already spectacular gesture to get out of the marking against Brest. Showtime...

He is important when he plays 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30 or 90. And even when he does not play, he is very important by his state of mind, he is at the service of the team.

Luis Enrique

Ramos' impact off the bench is further proof of what Luis Enrique says again and again, he can count on all his players: "Some have exceptional performance at certain times of the season, it varies, it's normal in a football team. As for Gonçalo Ramos, I am very satisfied with his attitude, which is extremely positive, whether he plays one minute or more. He is always at his best. He is a very reliable player." The state of mind, an element that the Spaniard often highlights about Ramos. He did it again on Tuesday : "He is important when he plays 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30 or 90. And even when he is not playing, he is very important because of his state of mind, he is at the service of the team. He is a player who has an exceptional number of goals per minute played and I hope he will continue like that, or even improve further. I am delighted to have a player like Gonçalo Ramos."

However, he will have to make do with less important league matches and more affordable Coupe de France matches to rediscover the joys of the starting 11. This will probably be the case this Wednesday (9:10 p.m.), in the quarter-finals of the "CDF" , against the amateurs of Saint-Brieuc (N2). That will not prevent him from being ready to make the difference at the end of the game during the biggest games. Maybe even against Liverpool in C1 (March 5 and 11) , who knows. "It seems that he is the solution to all the problems. When he comes back, he will bring the same thing as before. I love him, like the other players in the squad," said Luis Enrique while Paris Saint-Germain were dipping into efficiency and Ramos was about to return. The scene was set.

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In Paris, the star is the team. And it is through play that the Parisians must find the solution. There is no question of Luis Enrique revising his copy and making Ramos the spearhead of an attack that would revolve around him. "He does not change our game. He is a finisher. He brings continuity, he is another profile" , he said recently. It is up to the Portuguese to accommodate it, as he is doing currently, with the right attitude on and off the field and an efficiency that makes him a perfect reinforcement coming from the bench. A "supersub". It is probably not the destiny he imagined when he signed for Paris, but he has to deal with it. Luis Enrique sees his team - and the results prove him right - without a center forward. And therefore without Gonçalo Ramos. A priori, that is not "reversible" .