Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 25, the Paris Saint-Germain winger, clearly took his place on the bench very badly before coming on, and this is precisely what seems to have fueled his performance. In L’Equipe, Adel Chedli, Willy Sagnol’s assistant with Georgia, describes a player whose pride was wounded but who was capable of channeling that frustration into an immediate response on the pitch.
Chedli: “He’s a player with character and self-respect.”
“As soon as I saw his face when he came on, I knew. He’s a player with character and self-respect. He must have been hurt by not starting. The first goal he scored wasn’t a fluke. It’s a situation he works on all the time with us and at PSG. There aren’t many players capable of doing that. He’s a phenomenon.”
Does his motivation change between competitions?
Ligue 1 is tactical, physical, and defends with a low block. It’s more difficult for a player like Khvicha. He’s expected to make an impact, his opponents know he can break ankles, so they gang up on him in groups of two or three.
The message is clear and shows that Luis Enrique knows how to rouse his players’ egos. Each time, the players put in good performances, as if to remind everyone that they are capable of changing the course of a match. Kvaratskhelia has character, and you need that to play at the highest level.
Of course, you also have to be able to deliver in every match, and the return leg against Chelsea will be an important moment for the players and the club. It’s the kind of match that leaves a lasting impression, and great players always want to be at the peak of their game in those moments.
