A week later, Paris Saint-Germain returned to the Stade de France. This time, it will be against OL. And without Mbappé …
You miss only one being… If he does not want to rule out the hypothesis of a “miracle” in Lisbon, Thomas Tuchel will have to do without Kylian Mbappé this Friday (9:10 pm), against Lyon, at the Stade de France. Hit in the right ankle in the final of the Coupe de France (1-0), the prodigy of Bondy has “about” for three weeks. “Kylian? No news. He takes care of it and, as we all know, he will not play, ”said the German coach, on the eve of this last League Cup final. This is obviously a blow for PSG, knowing the XXL impact of the former Monegasques in terms of statistics (30 goals in 34 matches this season) but also in the possibilities it offers in terms of play. ” Indispensable ”, summarizes Thiago Silva. “A player like Kylian would start on any team. He will be missed, ”confirms Marco Verratti. “It has a very big influence for us. But we want and I hope we will find the solution, ”notes Tuchel.
“It’s not possible to prepare Atalanta now because I don’t know another team that plays like them”
Thomas Tuchel
A 4-3-3 solution? Against Atalanta, that’s almost certain. In addition to Mbappé, PSG will indeed have to do without the services of Angel Di Maria (suspended). But against Lyon, the German technician could continue with the 4-4-2. Although… “If we want to keep our 4-4-2, we are missing Kylian and Edi (Cavani, at the end of the contract), two key players in attack. You can do it with “Choupo”, Angel Di Maria or Pablo Sarabia. These are the possibilities, ”he slips. One thing is certain: Tuchel will not put in place an eleven or a plan that will resemble that of August 12. “It’s not possible to prepare Atalanta now because I don’t know another team that plays like them,” swears the Bavarian.
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In the meantime, the Lyonnais do not boast under the pretext that the prodigy of Bondy will watch this final in the gallery. “PSG have a better team than ours,” promises Rudi Garcia. “Mbappé package? It does not change our plans, assures Léo Dubois. We know that it is a big strength of their team but there are only players of international class opposite. Kylian isn’t here, but there are others. We will have to be focused. We are convinced of our qualities. We’re here to try to win this trophy because we need it. ” Indeed, Olympique Lyonnais could not be European for the first time since 1997. Two options to avoid this: win the Coupe de la Ligue or… the Champions League. Let us also remember that the Gones, for a time masters of French football, have not lifted any trophy for eight years!
Still, Kylian Mbappé must take his troubles patiently. And his teammates will at least have to do without him against OL and in a friendly against Sochaux (L2), on August 5. “Despite the victory, we all had a thought for him,” says Verratti, looking back into last week’s final. All football players have injuries. It sometimes falls off at important times. In the end, I hope to have (four) more matches to play, and we can win three trophies. Beautiful things await us, ”adds the little Italian, echoing the words of Neymar, with these“ four finals to play ”. Understand by this, the final of the League Cup and up to three C1 matches in August.
Already without a crutch at Camp des Loges
“Afterwards, he’s an incredible boy, he always has a smile, continues Verratti. He will work more to try to get back as soon as possible. We’re still with him, we see him in the locker room. He is quiet. ” Seeing him without a crutch at Camp des Loges this week is already reassuring. And the 21-year-old world champion has indeed not lost his good humor, if we are to believe his latest posts on social networks. “Just watching the replay of Milan (victory on the ground of Sampdoria Wednesday, note). Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), what a player anyway. 38 years old ! It was all for me good day guys ”, he had fun Thursday, with lots of smileys. Good humor, but also slave labor, we can imagine. It is not in the boy’s temperament to give up, especially with the prospect of winning a Champions League… “Hope? Yes, always, but it will be very short, that’s clear, loose Tuchel, without really believing it. Every day counts… ”Tick tock.
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