Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Gini Wijnaldum needs more time to adjust at Paris Saint-Germain following an underwhelming start to his Parc des Princes career.
The Dutchman left Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer, opting to make the move to Paris and spurn the advances of Barcelona in the process.
But he has struggled to replicate his Reds form in Ligue 1 so far, and was substituted at half-time in PSG's 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League last week before only being utilised as a late substitute in their last outing against Lyon on Sunday.
Yet Pochettino has played down fears about the 30-year-old, insisting the Ligue 1 giants will start to see more from him the more time Wijnaldum and his family have time to settle in France.
“Gini also arrived in the team with a lack of preparation," the Argentine told reporters. "He needs time too.
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"Then, there is an important thing to know: any transfer corresponds to a new sporting situation but also family, human, and this impacts any player arriving at the club especially without the pre-season preparation period.
“Indeed, the latter is not only used to work on the automatisms, the physique, and the tactics of a player, it is also used to allow the installation of the family.
“So when the players come in late, when they have to be competitive, when they have to get to know each other when they have to train when their families have to find a home, a school for the children.
"There are so many parameters that come into account – and I’m not saying this is an excuse – that you have to be very patient, very understanding.
“This adaptation time is necessary for the club, teammates, and families. As long as his family is not settled in his new life, it is difficult for a player to have the peace of mind to show all his qualities.
"We know that Wijnaldum can do a lot of different things for us in the game.”
Wijnaldum has made seven appearances for PSG so far this season, with the Ligue 1 outfit next in action away at Metz on Wednesday night.
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