The temperature is rising at PSG.
The positive tests of Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria at Covid-19 have changed the situation and the atmosphere at Camp des Loges in the Yvelines.
Especially since among the fifteen players tested in recent hours, three new cases have been identified in the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain.
Failing to be devoted to training, it is therefore under the sign of medical examinations and the coronavirus that this return to school took place, Thursday, September 3, between exasperation and concern.
The consequence of these vacations which raise questions.
1. Should the players be given vacations?
We must separate the postponement of the match against Lens, the holidays granted and the destination chosen by the players.
If the first and the last point are at the center of the debate for many reasons, the cut is quite easily explained.
The PSG group was described by relatives as psychologically worn out after their adventure in Portugal.
Beyond the physical and mental requirement of a Champions League race after several months of hiatus and two national cup finals, the health bubble and the permanent wearing of masks weighed on the group, which demanded this breath of fresh air.
Thomas Tuchel was fully aware of this and even extended by one day the vacation he had initially granted until September 2.
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In the past, the coach had already taken advantage of international breaks to blow his group away.
The postponement of the match in Lens allowed him to also offer this break to the internationals (Kimpembe, Mbappé, Draxler, Kehrer and Dagba).
Duration, on the other hand, questioned.
Leonardo is not a fan of these long cuts and other close to the group consider that these 11 days could be detrimental (deconditioning, risk of injury) before stringing together many games.
2. Have they been reminded of the health rules to follow?
Yes.
And this is one of the reasons for the anger and exasperation going on behind the scenes.
In fact, "there were no instructions not to do this or that," explains a player's adviser.
Rather, we gave them the general message not to be stupid.
“Recommendations that some, cautious, have taken literally by avoiding kisses and hugs, sometimes even suggesting to their friends a screening prior to any visit.
But, on vacation, far from the field and the competition, others have also taken time off with health rules.
From August 8 to 24 in Portugal, all were subject to the strictest rules.
Have good habits evaporated under the Balearic sun?
Some people want to believe not and hypothesize that the virus could have been transmitted by Sergio Rico, Edinson Cavani or the entourage of their (now) former partners, also present in Ibiza.
A thesis that would not hold if, as one of his relatives assured us, the Uruguayan was in perfect health.
One thing is certain, however, is that, like the warm embrace that Kurzawa and Verratti gave each other on Thursday morning when they met at Camp des Loges, friendship sometimes makes you forget basic gestures.
3. Were they aware of damaging the club's image?
The group demonstrated with the birthday of Cavani, Icardi and Di Maria, just after the defeat against Dortmund in February, that the "what will we say" passed after his willingness to share moments together.
The sequences of Parisians partying, gathering with families and friends on yachts or in restaurants, without barrier gestures, are the counterpart of the excellent atmosphere that unites this group.
The players display at the same moment their unity and their recklessness.
The "stories" that have flourished on social networks have made PSG cough.
The appearance of cases was judged "inevitable" a few days before by birds of ill omen, finally perceptive.
The Ibiza cluster is not only talked about in the media.
One agent describes his player as "relieved that it didn't happen before the Champions League", but fatalistic.
“He thinks like everyone else that when you have this level of responsibility, you don't do anything like some teammates did.
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4. Were they asked to avoid certain destinations?
Nothing was imposed, but the recommendations appealed at least to everyone's common sense.
The first, more rigid, which advised not to cross the globe and join South America, were followed.
The others, more flexible, have been adapted.
If no one has forbidden players to take advantage of Europe, they have nevertheless been advised not to hesitate to take advantage of French territory.
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The desires of elsewhere were stronger.
Many of them headed for the Balearics through private flights.
A place where the rate of circulation of the virus was, of course, increasing, but less present than in Ile-de-France.
There, it was with the family, in the resorts that some, like Paredes, Di Maria and Herrera, shared with others, that they recharged the batteries.
Until the Covid gets involved ...
