Zoumana Camara discusses PSG satellite club, youngsters playing time

Zoumana Camara, the Paris Saint-Germain U-19 coach, spoke to L'Équipe about the players from the youth academy and the possibilities of developing at a club like PSG.

The French coach evoked the idea of a satellite club, though he'd ideally make it a requirement that such a club have a "philosophy" like that of the Parisian organization. Finally, for him, the departure of certain talents is inevitable and he invites everyone to look at those who stay rather than those who leave.

"There is no difference. When a player has talent, like Coman, Rabiot, or Augustin, he succeeds. And it will continue like this," said Camara. "Warren (Zaïre-Emery, 16 years old) and El Chadaille (Bitshiabu, 17 years old) are getting there", Camara added after being questioned about whether PSG's youngsters now have more chances to make it to the first team.

"The question we must ask ourselves is for the players who have a slightly slower development and who need stages. The challenge is there," said the coach.

Zoumana Camara was also asked if having a satellite club could be a solution for PSG, to which he replied that "it can be interesting, but in this satellite club there has to be a philosophy similar to that of PSG".

"If you have a team that throw long balls, and you want future Verrattis or Vitinhas, there will be a problem", he said with a laugh.

Zoumana Camara talked about the possibility of PSG getting a satellite club to aid the development of their prospects

The creation of a satellite club is perhaps a solution to give playing time to the strongest youngsters and thus allow them to play before returning to Paris when they are more prepared. But as Camara says, it must not be a "reserve" club. The preference should be to forge a link between what PSG wants to offer and what the satellite club would offer.

The ideal club would serve as a springboard to progress and, above all, upon the players' returns they should already be able to smoothly integrate into the Parisian style of play.

Camara was inevitably questioned about the short playing time of youngsters like Zaïre-Emery, to which he responded positively that "seeing them with the professionals is already satisfying".

"We would also like them to have more playing time, but the competition is fierce. Perhaps in other Ligue 1 clubs, they would have much more playing time. Being at PSG the demands and the quality of the group mean that there are fewer minutes available. They have to be patient", Camara acknowledged.

Zoumana Camara: "All the big European clubs have let successful players go. You have to accept it"

As expected, L'Equipe asked Camara about the case of world-renowned and über-prospect Xavi Simons, to which the coach replied that "we are always going to talk about the players we haven't been able to keep. But there are those who are here. All the big European clubs have let successful players go. You have to accept it".

The cases of Xavi Simons and Warren Zaïre-Emery are obviously different. Simons had his opportunity but he did not convince in a sector of the pitch quite saturated.

Zaïre-Emery has a better chance of occupying a place in PSG's first team because in the center of the field there is less competition and, for a club run such as Paris Saint-Germain, fewer stars.

The Parisian is still very young, so we shouldn't rush him so much for now. He has already played with the professionals and he is not even 17 years old. Zaïre-Emery's playing time should gradually increase until he becomes a legitimate competitor.

PSG still have to learn how to manage their young prospects and not let them go too early in their developmental paths. Christophe Galtier has started this transition, and now it is up to him to help the youngsters progress.