Assessing Paris Saint-Germain’s Options to Replace Unai Emery

Unai Emery has been at Paris Saint-Germain for less than six months, and yet it seems as though his tenure may be at its end. 

The former Sevilla boss has struggled to establish an effective playing style, and results have been thoroughly underwhelming. 

While Paris are undergoing something of an evolution following the summer departures of established first-team players like David Luiz and Ezequiel Lavezzi, as well as the iconic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the quality available to Emery remains high. 

PSG have limped to the winter break on an appalling, by their standards, run of form. 

Just two wins from the last six games have the four-time defending champions sitting five points off the pace in Ligue 1 and, after relinquishing top spot in their Champions League group, on course to face Barcelona in the Round of 16. 

The season is not yet a disaster and Emery has been hailed as “one of the best coaches in Europe” by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (via Daily Mail) but his future remains in doubt. 

Changing managers mid-season is a dangerous exercise but can often be an effective move. Real Madrid won the European Cup last season after dismissing Rafa Benitez.

If Paris are to make a change soon, there are plenty of options open to them. 

According to Goal.com, Roberto Mancini has been a long-term target for PSG and was considered before Emery was appointed. 

A former Manchester City boss, Mancini has experience overseeing a comparably ambitious project to Paris’. His masterful management of City’s 2011–12 Premier League-winning campaign is the most impressive mark on his trophy-laden resume.

A pragmatist focused on substance over style, Mancini could be an effective short-term solution for the Parisians. 

Mancini though, speaking with Mediaset Premium (H/T FootballItalia) has denied any “concrete” developments over a possible move. 

Ex-Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is another option for PSG. 

While his tenure at Old Trafford was thoroughly underwhelming, van Gaal has won 19 trophies in his impressive …

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