Paris Saint-Germain resume Ligue 1 duties on Thursday shorn of a clutch of their most prized coronavirus-quarantined stars and going through the daunting process of 4 video games in 11 days. The delayed season-opening journey to Lens couldn’t have come at a worse time for coach Thomas Tuchel and his gamers as they shake off the harm left by the Champions League last defeat to Bayern Munich. COVID-19 has ripped the guts out of Tuchel’s facet, with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes testing constructive.
PSG confirmed three extra circumstances with L’Equipe figuring out them as Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Other than Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after holidaying in Ibiza following the 1-Zero loss in Lisbon final month.
Mbappe examined constructive on France responsibility initially of the week, forcing the world’s second most costly participant to take a seat out Tuesday’s World Cup last rematch with Croatia.
Simply to complicate issues additional, striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting is out of contract, though the home press increase the chance he may signal an extension.
Tuchel’s plight was laid naked when at coaching on Monday he solely had 11 gamers at his disposal, with others away on worldwide responsibility.
PSG’s scheduled first recreation towards Metz was pushed again on account of their Champions League commitments. They then requested and have been granted an extra delay to the beginning of their title defence to permit them to recover from their European hangover.
Tuchel can be grateful a few of his absent males can be coming back from taking part in for his or her nations this week, as PSG face a busy return to home duties.
Ready recreation
After Lens they host arch rivals Marseille on the Parc des Princes on Sunday, a conflict many of the quarantined gamers are additionally anticipated to overlook in keeping with each sporting director Leonardo and Tuchel.
“After the vacations, after this quarantine part with out coaching, I am underneath the impression this match on Sunday comes too quickly. However we will wait a bit,” Tuchel stated Wednesday.
“Tomorrow (Thursday) we’re in Lens, I feel some gamers will be capable of do some particular person session, and after maybe two gamers will be capable of return to coaching Friday whereas maybe two will come again Saturday,” he added.
If given the virus all-clear they need to be again in time for Metz at residence on September 16 and Good 4 days later.
This all leaves Tuchel with a variety headache for the journey to northern France, switching midfielders Julian Draxler or Pablo Sarabia up into assault and counting on PSG’s pool of kids.
And in aim, with Navas out and Sergio Rico unavailable as he signed his contract after the unique August 29 date for the fixture, Tuchel must name on 20-year-old Marcin Bulka who has performed only one first-team recreation for the membership.
Promoted
Captaining Tuchel’s combine and match crew is more likely to be Presnel Kimpembe following the departure of Thiago Silva to Chelsea.
PSG accomplished a sweep of the home trophies final time period, profitable Ligue 1 for the seventh time in eight makes an attempt in a season reduce quick by the coronavirus pandemic.
Matters talked about on this article
