During the first day of the Champions League, PSG largely dominated Atalanta at the Parc des Princes (4-0) thanks to the goals of Marquinhos, Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos. Despite this broad radiant success, the meeting was marked by a new injury, recalling that the club must deal with an already sharply reduced workforce. The match against Atalanta has indeed brought its share of bad news for PSG: João Neves had to leave the lawn prematurely on injury, in addition to an already worrying list. With Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué absent for several weeks, the capital's club sees its offensive and creative options even more limited.
Without forgetting other equally disturbing situations. For example, Kang in Lee, who still came into play, was slightly affected against RC Lens, while Fabián Ruiz had been spared during the gathering with Spain to avoid any additional risk. Slightly affected in the last championship match, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia remains under surveillance, while Lucas Beraldo was released on stretcher. To this is added a very noticeable physical fatigue at Achraf Hakimi, which is starting to show signs of wear after several weeks of intense matches. The sequence of meetings and the high level of European and national confrontations weigh clearly on a workforce already reduced by prolonged absences.
Only negative point of the Parisian epic
This situation is deeply worried while the PSG calendar promises to be hellish with Olympique de Marseille, FC Barcelona, ​​LOSC, RC Strasbourg and Bayer Leverkusen to challenge in the next 30 days. All with a new international truce. In addition to the Champions League, the club will have to face the constraints of the trip to Qatar for the intercontinental cup in December. To this will be added the African Cup of Nations, which will deprive the Hakimi team for a certain period, as well as the year of World Cup, which will further increase the physical load and the risks of injury for an already weakened group. “”I think we have the players to replace the injured. Obviously, they are important players for us but I think we are a very strong and solid team. The players who are there are ready to help the team. I think we are ready to face all opponents. It's complicated because we have a lot of matches, there are a lot of injuries. Me and my teammates, we try to do good management.“Said Nuno Mendes, author of a sumptuous goal against DEA on Wednesday evening. The absence of JoĂŁo Neves, although no communication has yet been unveiled by PSG, can appear as a new disaster scenario.
On this subject, Luis Enrique remains cautious: “It was unexpected. We will have to wait for the doctors to say. I have no news. He must take medical exams. We will have more information tomorrow and the day after tomorrow». Asked too, Lucas Chevalier, who experienced a baptism of fire in the PSG jersey in the fairly calm Champions League, did not hide being alarmed: “We are all disturbed by this situation. I think the coach will try to be careful this year. will manage the players. Because with the past season, it may start to shoot. I think they will do everything to preserve the players. In the end, I hope it does not matter and that it will come back very quickly». In this context, the club must manage not only the competitive aspect, but also the health and recovery of its players. The massacre of injuries highlights the current fragility of the Parisian workforce and asks serious questions about its ability to maintain a high level of performance on all fronts. Each new unavailability becomes a tactical and physical puzzle for Luis Enrique, while the season will quickly approach crucial phases.
