The Lee Kang-in Paradox

Lee Kang-in has not scored in 29 consecutive Ligue 1 games, but he is still a bright spot for Paris Saint-Germain.

Lee Kang-in has not scored in PSG's last three games, but he is still making a profound impact.

Every time he appears, the Korean midfielder makes a difference. The paradox is that PSG praises him as a “key player”, but rarely gives him the chance to show his talent.

Lee Kang-in's Value

In the 90+5 minute at Lyon's stadium in the 12th round of Ligue 1 in the early morning of November 10, PSG was awarded a corner kick. Lee Kang-in stepped up and unleashed a dangerous curling kick. Joao Neves jumped high to head the ball into the net, sealing a 3-2 victory for the French champions.

PSG erupted in joy, and Lee smiled quietly. He didn't score, but he was the one who opened the victory, a bold mark on his 100th match for PSG.

That was not the first time Lee made a difference. Before that, in the match against Nice on November 1, he also took a corner kick that led to Goncalo Ramos' only goal. PSG won 1-0. In the League Phase, Champions League, although PSG lost 1-2 to Bayern Munich, Lee was still rated the highest in the team by WhoScored - 7.91. Every time he was given a chance, he left something behind. Not noisy, but effective.

The problem is that PSG have never been clear with Lee Kang-in. They say they trust him, but their actions are different. Le Parisien reports that PSG still considers Lee a “core player”, and that coach Luis Enrique has “restored confidence” in him. The club explained that Lee’s reduced playing time last season was “part of a maturation process”. A reason that sounds humane, but not convincing.

Lee Kang-in has always shown his worth at PSG.

Lee joined PSG in the summer of 2023 from Mallorca with a release fee of 22 million euros. He is expected to be the face of the new generation of Asians in Europe.

An impressive start, then gradually being pushed out of the starting lineup. Despite 7 goals and 6 assists in Ligue 1 last season, Lee only played 19 minutes in the Champions League knockout round. The Korean player himself admitted that he felt “both in the team and outside”.

PSG said the reason was because Lee was “mentally tired”, that his face was heavy in training, and he lacked energy in his movements. But with just a few chances, Lee proved it all.

His left-footed passing is fluid, precise and creative. He is always in the right position, dictates the tempo, and understands how to make his teammates play better. That is something not everyone on the team has.

In fact, PSG do not have many options left. Ousmane Dembele is injured, Desire Doue is out for a long time, Luis Enrique is forced to return to Lee. However, he is currently ranked 12th in terms of playing time, having only started 6 matches. The Spanish captain still defends his point of view: "Competition is part of development. Lee Kang-in is stronger under pressure."

That statement became the center of controversy. RMC Sport responded: “Using competition as an excuse to limit playing opportunities has nothing to do with player development.” The French media said that PSG was rationalizing an unacceptable truth: they did not really trust Lee.

If PSG really considered him a valuable asset, they wouldn’t have asked for 50 million euros when the player wanted to leave. That’s not a transfer fee, but a barrier to keeping him. Le Parisien commented: “PSG doesn’t see Lee as a rotation player, but as a valuable asset.” An accurate assessment, as the club seems to be valuing Lee more by his commercial value than his footballing value.

Off the pitch, Lee is slowly regaining his joy.

Off the pitch, Lee is slowly regaining his joy. He has settled well into life in Paris with his family, and has maintained a positive attitude despite his close friend Marco Asensio leaving the team. On the training pitch, he often smiles and jokes with his teammates. But those smiles only really mean something when he is on the pitch, where every player proves his worth.

Lee Kang-in's memorable milestone

The recent victory over Lyon has many layers of meaning. 100 games for PSG is a proud milestone, especially for an Asian player in a harsh environment like Ligue 1.

But what makes people admire is not just the number, but the way Lee achieved it: by patience, by silence, by turning small minutes into opportunities. He did not complain, did not put pressure, just let the football speak for itself.

PSG can talk about “long-term projects”, “competitive development”, or “modern circular thinking”. However, football is not in the presentations. Football is where results define belief. And Lee’s results are convincing enough.

Lee gives PSG what they lack, a balance of technique, intelligence and self-sacrifice. He is not as quick as Dembele, not as explosive as Doue, but he knows when to slow down, when to pass, when to keep the ball.

That is why every time Lee appears, PSG becomes more stable. Lee's moves do not create "wow", but bring peace of mind. He makes the teammates around him play better. In a collective full of egos, he is the necessary quiet spot.

Lee Kang-in is living between two worlds : praised but still doubted, called the “X factor” but rarely playing. That paradox says more than the numbers. It reflects the way PSG treats talent, wanting to exploit but not daring to give faith.

But Lee still chose to remain silent. He knew that words could not replace passes and goals. He still waited for the chance to prove himself, not for pity, but for recognition.

For PSG, perhaps it’s time to stop the philosophy and start the action. Because if Lee Kang-in gets more playing time, this team will not only have a good player, but also a soul. Someone who knows how to listen, connect, and know when to shine.

And that is exactly what PSG is lacking the most.

Source: https://znews.vn/nghich-ly-lee-kang-in-post1601549.html