The phrase, \u2018The grass isn\u2019t alway greener\u2019, tends to be thrown around a lot these days, as player after player learn the hard way that a departure isn\u2019t always the best option. It\u2019s perhaps the biggest regret a player can have, making the wrong move; it can completely derail a career, damage work and home life, and leave a player\u2019s love for the game as non-existent as their place in their new squad. And, so far, that\u2019s what\u2019s happened to Georginio Wijnaldum at PSG.<\/p>\n
Mr Reliable at Liverpool, Wijnaldum has been anything but at PSG, with the term \u2018system player\u2019 frighteningly hovering above his name. As each underwhelming performance arrives, the question is asked once more: Did Liverpool<\/a> need Wijnaldum? Or did Wijnaldum need Liverpool? A couple months into the season, and it seems a mix of both.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not playing a guessing game in regards to how Wijnaldum feels at PSG. The midfielder admitted, himself, that things have far from gone to plan so far, telling NOS Sport<\/a>: \u201cTo be honest, I can’t say I’m completely happy [at Paris Saint-Germain] because the situation is not what I wanted. Sometimes if you don\u2019t play it\u2019s worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dutchman\u2019s lack of game time – he has started six out of 11 games – comes a slight surprise. Many expected Wijnaldum to act as the glue to hold the plethora of stars included in the PSG team together. Whilst Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar took the headlines, Wijnaldum was expected to do the job that he did at Liverpool: Clean up in the background, do the dirty work, and maybe even pop up with an important goal from time-to-time.<\/p>\n One man that didn\u2019t have that role in mind, initially anyway, was Mauricio Pochettino. The former Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> manager attempted to add the \u2018Dutch\u2019 Wijnaldum to his side; the goalscoring, more advanced version of the midfielder, just in case a front free of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe couldn\u2019t get the job done. And that\u2019s where Pochettino has gone wrong.<\/p>\n Every midfielder wants to play in the advanced role, before realising that they are simply not capable of finding the back of the net, and far better at those clattering challenges, or neat, but effective passes. The difference with Wijnaldum is that he is capable of both roles. And that\u2019ll frustrate PSG, who attempted to use him in an advanced position, before witnessing failure, realising that this is no longer a young Dutchman scoring four goals in one game at St. James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n Instead of searching for what would be needless goals from midfield sources, considering their potent front three, PSG must use Wijnaldum in his \u2018Liverpool role\u2019. Have him sit deep next to a Marco Verratti, or Idrissa Gueye; let him do the dirty work, so that the rest of the system can perform to its maximum ability. There is still time for Mauricio Pochettino to discover the magical lamp, give it a rub, and wait for a world class Gini Wijnaldum to pop out. The Dutchman just needs to settle into a familiar role.<\/p>\n Main PhotoGeorginio Wijnaldum PSG Move: A Transfer Filled With Instant Regret<\/h2>\n
Wijnaldum Admits Unhappiness<\/h3>\n
Wijnaldum Will Thrive in Less Exciting, but More Effective Role<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>