After resuming the race last week, the world champion touched the ball on Saturday in Faro.
“Hi, how are you?” Laughs Kylian Mbappé, followed by the cameras of PSG in Faro. Except that it is rather to him that we want to ask this question. Hit in the ankle on July 24, in the final of the Coupe de France against Saint-Etienne (1-0), the 21-year-old world champion was to have “about three weeks” before resuming. This is what the club had indicated, being careful not to specify whether there was any question of a resumption of training or competition. Since then, we know that Mbappé resumed the race last week. Friday, rest for everyone and Saturday, departure towards the south of Portugal for a mini-course of three days. 27 players on the plane, but not Marco Verratti, affected in the calf and who will not join the group until Tuesday, in Lisbon. The ex-Monegasque, he is very present with the rest of the group. Obviously, he did not participate in the “intensive 90-minute training session” concocted by the Parisian staff. We saw him do cardio. We have mostly seen him feel leather. “The top scorer in Ligue 1 has trained individually with the ball, and against goals,” said PSG on its website.
At best on the bench against Atalanta?
Enough to share the optimism displayed by Ander Herrera about Mbappé’s participation in the Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta, Wednesday (9 p.m.), in Lisbon? Softly the bass. The person has not even resumed collective training yet, and he has only 150 minutes of friendly matches and 29 against the Greens in his legs since March 11, and the victory against Dortmund (2-0) . At the present time, it is safer to hope to see his name on the scoresheet, with a possible entry into play during the second half.
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In the meantime, seeing Kylian Mbappé on the meadow, even solo, is rather reassuring. And as good news is scarce in Paris at the moment, it should be welcomed with open arms. Another good surprise, Layvin Kurzawa also worked individually. Victim of a “right thigh injury”, the side must resume collective training “within two weeks”. On Saturday, he “did a personalized running session”. For the rest, the Rouge et Bleu “worked on a series of exercises alternating phases of passing and possession, before participating in high intensity oppositions. All during a session that lasted an hour and a half, which ended with beautiful exchanges, ”notes the Parisian club. No worries for Mauro Icardi and Thilo Kehrer. All under the Portuguese sun, but without the scorching temperatures seen in France recently. Ideal to prepare for the duel against Atalanta and this unprecedented “Final 8” in Lisbon. Unpublished, and behind closed doors. Fans will indeed find the door closed at the Estadio da Luz or the Estadio Jose Alvagare, the two stadiums concerned by this final tournament.
“03/11 was magical, make 08/23 historic”
Ultras Paris collective
The Ultras therefore came to greet their proteges on Saturday morning, at Le Bourget airport, with songs, banners and smoke. “Three victories for glory,” said one of their banners. “03/11 was magical, make 08/23 historic”, demanded another. On March 11 it was Dortmund. On August 23, it will be the final of the Champions League. To access it, Neymar and company will have to dismiss the Bergamo club on August 12, the club’s 50th anniversary, then RB Leipzig or Atlético Madrid, on the 19th, in the semi-finals. In the other part of the table, we find Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Barcelona or even OL, who beat Juventus on Friday. In the meantime, there is still work to be done.
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