Even while searching very well, the word “package” does not appear in the press release published by Paris-Saint-Germain, this Monday, July 27. And this is anything but a coincidence. Officially, Kylian Mbappé is therefore not out of the race for the quarter-final of the Champions League, on August 12 in Lisbon, against Atalanta Bergamo.
But no need to know how to read between the lines to understand that a recovery would be almost miraculous recovery for the striker, injured Friday July 24 during the final of the Coupe de France, won against Saint-Etienne (1-0) .
” The imaging workup performed today confirms a sprained ankle with external ligament injury. Following this trauma, the recovery time is approximately three weeks », Indicates the club on its official website after the additional examinations passed by the player. By “recovery”, club doctors normally mean a return to physical activity which consists above all in lining up a few laps of the pitch at a slow trot.
Sixteen days before the most important match of its season, PSG does not act on the absence of its top scorer and prefers to hang on to this tiny hope, hoping that a specific medical protocol and a lot of ice around the ankle bruised allow to shorten the delays.
Even if he misses the meeting against the Italians, Mbappé could still sign his return in a possible semi-final on August 18, in case of qualification, or even in the final, on August 23. Whatever happens, it is certain that he will be traveling to Portugal for this “final 8”. After all, his very presence at least has the merit of fostering doubt and fear among opponents.
What if Tuchel changed organization?
In the coming days, Bondy’s prodigy ankle therefore risks becoming the protagonist of a medical soap opera worthy of the episode of Zinédine Zidane’s thigh during the 2002 World Cup. At the time, the story had ended with a pitiful elimination and a last match against Denmark played on one leg by the leader of the Blues.
Not necessarily the most reassuring example. After a preparation deemed successful and convincing friendly matches, all indicators were nevertheless green for PSG before this too committed tackle by future retiree Loïc Perrin, on the lawn of the Stade de France. The probable absence of Mbappé reveals a depopulated offensive sector, especially since Edinson Cavani refused to extend his Parisian seven-year term by two months.
The versatile Pablo Sarabia appears as the natural replacement of Mbappé, but the Spaniard is already called upon to replace, in the position of right midfielder, an Angel Di Maria suspended against Bergamo.
With two of his “fantastic four” absent, Thomas Tuchel could abandon the 4-4-2 tactical scheme and return to a 4-3-3 with a Neymar-Icardi-Sarabia trio in attack and a more supplied midfielder with the presence of Marquinhos.
But the German coach is not there yet. Friday July 31, he already has a Coupe de la Ligue final to win against Lyon. And this time, he hopes not to see one of his players come and lift the trophy on crutches.
