Kang-in's year was a fascinating chapter in the young South Korean's career. Under Luis Enrique, the 23-year-old has shown both moments of brilliance and moments of inconsistency as he adapted to the demands of the Spanish tactician. After arriving in the summer of 2023, expectations were high for the former Mallorca playmaker, and his journey so far has provided plenty to analyze.
One of Lee Kang-in's outstanding qualities is his exceptional technical skill. With his deft touch, a vision that belies his years and a remarkable ability to create space in tight spaces, he has quickly become an asset in PSG's attacking transitions. His performance against Angers earlier this season was a particular highlight, where he orchestrated play beautifully, scoring two goals and providing an assist in a dominant 4-2 win. That match showed his talent for exploiting half-spaces, making crisp passes and making runs to destabilize the defence. His versatility has also often been praised by Luis Enrique, who has deployed him in a variety of roles, ranging from the usual right winger to more surprising roles such as central midfielder or defensive on the right flank.
However, his season has not been without its challenges, as PSG have generally struggled in many areas so far. The intensity of Luis Enrique's high-pressure system has occasionally exposed a lack of defensive sharpness in Lee Kang-in's game. In games against physically strong teams such as Marseille, he struggled to impose himself, with turnovers in midfield leading to dangerous counter-attacks. Although he is one of PSG's rare positive surprises of the season so far along with Bradley Barcola, the South Korea international clearly still has room for improvement, particularly in his decision-making under pressure and his defensive positioning.
What is most striking is Lee Kang-in's room for progress. He has quickly become a fan favorite at the Parc des Princes, who are increasingly drawn to the project of building the star of tomorrow rather than off-the-shelf products. While his defensive contributions and physicality still need improvement, his creativity, intelligence and adaptability have made him an essential asset for PSG, even if he is not a guaranteed starter under Luis Enrique.
GFFN | Gregory Devaux
Comments