There are defeats that hurt more than others. The one that Achraf Hakimi has just experienced clearly falls into the category of failures which mark a career and a life. While he dreamed of offering the CAN to the Moroccan people 50 years after the last coronation of the Atlas Lions, the Parisian woke up last Monday with a hangover, this unpleasant feeling of not having been up to the task the day after the overtime defeat against Senegal (0-1). The wound, still raw, will take time to heal but football is merciless and is already forcing him to get back in the saddle.
Like Brahim Diaz, who returned to Real Madrid less than a week after missing the panenka for the coronation, Hakimi should soon return to competition with PSG. Good news for the European champions, hoping that he will not be too affected by the mishap he has just experienced.
Achraf Hakimi’s return to Paris took place with the greatest discretion on Wednesday, without any photos or videos on the club’s social networks.. Like his young comrade Ibrahim Mbaye, he found his way back to Campus in the middle of the week, but did not return in the same physical and moral conditions as the Titi already starting at Auxerre (0-1), Friday.
Victim of a “little discomfort”, according to the term used by Luis Enrique, the Moroccan captain did not make the trip to Burgundy to benefit from a smoother recovery with an alternation of work in the gym and some exercises on the field.
Luis Enrique very attentive to the state of mind of his player
Luis Enrique also wanted to talk with his vice-captain to better understand his state of mind and feel the emotions that are going through him at the moment. The Parisian coach has been playing with a very small bench for several matches and welcomes the return of a leader like Achraf Hakimi to his team.
However, he knows that the last few months have been intense for a player who suffered a serious injury to his left ankle against Bayern Munich (1-2) on November 4, and who had to race against time to return to CAN time. If internally, we are delighted with the work that was carried out in concert with the Moroccan selection to get it back on its feet, we do not forget that we had to redouble our efforts to make its participation possible. Achraf Hakimi followed the first three group matches from the bench, before really launching his competition by playing every four or five days.
A rhythm to take into consideration in his recovery process, even if the general idea is not to wait too long to allow him to quickly move on to something else from a mental point of view.
If he feels good at the start of the week, Hakimi should therefore be included in the group for the reception of Newcastle on Wednesday in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. A crucial first step as Paris is counting on him to achieve its objectives and this week he will play for immediate access to the round of 16. On the other hand, there is very little chance of seeing him start the match. Luis Enrique has found, with Warren Zaire-Emery, a reliable understudy on the right side which allows him to carefully plan the return of the Moroccan star.
