What if Thomas Tuchel still went there with his little surprise? Rather adept at the opposite in recent days when composing his starting XI, the German technician could not refrain from innovating again this Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) against Basaksehir on the occasion of the 6th and last day of the Champions League group stage.
A week after the strong choices of Manchester United (Diallo at the position of left side and Di Maria on the bench in favor of Kean) and three days after the unprecedented 5-3-2 aligned in Montpellier, where only Navas, Diallo and Kean have retained their place of holder, Tuchel left the door open to several options, Monday afternoon during the meeting carried out under the eyes of Leonardo and President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
Exempted from the trip to Hérault this weekend to regenerate at Camp des Loges, Marco Verratti and Neymar will regain their place in the starting lineup. In view of the automatisms worked on during the session by the two players with Rafinha, the latter could be offered his first start of the season in the Champions League. Decisive when he entered Manchester where he delivered a caviar to Neymar, the former Barcelona player again scored points in Hérault where he was the best player on the pitch.
Will he be in competition with Angel Di Maria? The only certainty is that the Argentinean still appeared far from his level on Saturday at La Mosson. But El Fideo works with affect. And leaving him on the bench for a third time in four games wouldn’t be the best way to get him back in the game.
While Marquinhos, also spared this weekend, spent part of the session in the background, the biggest doubt was on Monday night around Presnel Kimpembe. Victim of a broken toe on November 4 in Leipzig, the French world champion still feels pain in his bruised foot. As he had done in Manchester with the same injury, however, he seems able to participate in this decisive meeting. Unless Tuchel is tempted to preserve him and find him in great shape for the match against Lyon this Sunday evening.
