Lee Kang-in is back at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The South Korean international is back from a long international break, and there’s a lot to be excited about. Lee returned from the Asian Games with a gold medal. He came back with the momentum of a debut goal, a multi-goal game, and two consecutive goals for the A team. Expectations are bound to be high.

You can feel the difference in Lee’s status. Local media outlets have made a big deal out of the fact that Lee has overtaken Kylian Mbappe as the number one jersey seller. 

His status is also reflected on the PSG website. Lee is featured on the main page, which showcases the PSG ‘FIRST TEAM’. With Luis Enrique in the center and Mbappe on the right, Lee stands tall. Aside from the coach, there are a total of four players, one of whom is Lee. He’s now one of PSG’s signature players.

Expectations are high, especially after PSG suffered a 1-4 defeat against Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League Group F second leg on May 5. Enrique, Mbappe, and others were heavily criticized for the humiliating defeat. It was their worst performance of the season.

The return of Lee Kang-in was seen as a chance to right the wrongs done against Newcastle. This means that he could be the key to transforming a lethargic team. PSG will host Strasbourg in the ninth round on October 22. It will be Lee’s first game since his return.

France Bleu wrote: “Lee Kang-in has finally returned to PSG. With his return, we will take back PSG. The game against Strasbourg is especially important as we look ahead to the UCL. We are especially looking forward to seeing Lee, who we haven’t seen much of this season. He’s our best-selling player and he’s back from his time with the South Korean national team,” the report said.

“I can’t wait to see how Enrique will use him, I want to see what he can do, and I believe he can right the wrongs we showed in the UCL. PSG lacked genius, creativity and the desire to move forward faster, and with Lee we will find the magic formula.”

The outlet predicted that a ‘centralized’ Lee could make his debut. The idea that PSG’s attacking resources are so overflowing that he could be dropped to the second line and utilized in midfield was a consistent theme in local media.

“Maybe against Strasbourg, Lee will be tested in the center of midfield. He is basically a winger with good passing ability and decisiveness. Enrique can use him in the center of midfield to give him extra creativity. It’s an interesting experiment.”

In the pre-match press conference, Enrique was equally excited. “He’s a player who has exploded and is proving his quality. He’s going to be the centerpiece of our system. He’s a very interesting player.” 메이저놀이터