Désiré Doué, the 20-year-old midfielder/forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team, was deployed in midfield by PSG coach Luis Enrique during last Friday’s 3-1 victory against Toulouse. This prompted L’Equipe to reflect on the French international’s best position. Bruno Génésio, the current Lille coach who knew Doué at Rennes, was asked to share his analysis with the sports daily.
Génésio: “As close to the goal as possible.”
“How would you define Désiré Doué’s playing style?
He ticks all the boxes of a modern player. What is a modern player? It’s a player who is already athletically capable of making a big difference. Désiré has that with his speed, his power, his work rate. He also possessed a technical arsenal far above average. He’s a decisive player who wants to be impactful with the final or penultimate pass, or with a goal. And he scores important goals, which isn’t so common. Finally, he has a very high-level mentality.
The debate surrounding his role, his identity as a player, is a regular one. In which position do you feel he’s most useful?
As close to the goal as possible. It doesn’t really matter whether he’s positioned centrally or on the wing; what’s important is that he can utilize his passing and finishing skills. When he’s positioned deeper, he tends to attempt complicated things, and therefore potentially of losing possession dangerously.
Génésio is “a player who is constantly eager to learn and improve.”
But should he settle into a single position in the short term?
No, he needs to gain diverse experiences. When you have 200 professional matches under your belt and have already won a Champions League title, you’re a prodigy, and this kind of rare profile needs to thrive in different playing situations. For him, I think it would be a mistake to settle down. Especially since it’s not something that bothers him. I played him as a double pivot at Rennes, for example, and he didn’t complain. Désiré is a player who is constantly eager to learn and improve.”
Indeed, Doué seems to perfectly embody the idea of the modern, top-level player. Technical skills are not forgotten, contrary to what some claim, but they are no longer “enough.” Or rather, they must be absolutely extraordinary. Furthermore, a certain level of physical fitness is required these days, as it’s so difficult to avoid duels throughout the entire match. There’s also the fact that a team struggles to maintain its composure if everyone isn’t making a real defensive effort.
PSG’s number 14 knows how to help his team, both offensively and defensively. He doesn’t shy away from hard work, is a true fighter in duels, and possesses considerable power. All this with a rare ease on the ball. Especially since he can make a real difference with his left foot. Unpredictable, a dribbler, passer, and scorer, Doué has the complete skill set.
This versatility is sure to please Luis Enrique, as it gives him various options. He can choose a more attacking style with Doué in midfield, for example. He can unleash particularly dangerous shots when he comes in from the left. He can make more runs down the wing when he’s on the right, while still maintaining his ability to cut back and score with his left foot. His willingness to take risks can be a disadvantage in midfield, but it’s also a valuable asset for escaping pressure or breaking through a defensive block.
Because the player doesn’t limit himself or complain, he develops his game and contributes to the team. That’s invaluable. Why pigeonhole a player with so many options? And let’s not forget that football is never set in stone. A starting position isn’t everything. Even less so with Luis Enrique.
