The show must go on!
It doesn't matter that Neymar, Di Maria and the leading roles have deserted the stage, that their names have (momentarily) been crossed off the poster and that the rehearsals are a bit turned upside down.
For the time being, the program has not changed.
The first representation of PSG this season in Ligue 1 is still scheduled for next Thursday, at 9 p.m., at the Bollaert stadium in Lens.
In the aftermath of the great barnum caused by “Ibizavirus” and fears of the proliferation of Covid-19 within its troop, PSG therefore resumed training on Friday as if nothing had happened.
Or almost.
With a day's delay, however, since the return to school the day before had been devoted to screening tests.
20 hours after having succeeded in a dropper to submit to the rigorous medical examinations, the Parisians were entitled to a real reunion and a semblance of return to normal.
Without the internationals (Kimpembe, Mbappé, Kehrer, Draxler, Mbe Soh, Dagba, Kalimuendo, Pembélé, Bulka) on the move with their selections, nor the six contaminated players (Neymar, Paredes, Di Maria, Marquinhos, Icardi and Navas), all the "negatives" available have resumed work on Friday morning at Camp des Loges.
A new streamlined protocol
Among them, the Spaniard Ander Herrera, contact case confirmed after his vacation alongside Di Maria and Paredes in the Balearic Islands, but negative in the Covid-19 test.
In the midst of other executives, such as Bernat, Sarabia, Verratti, Kurzawa or Diallo, mingled some young regulars under 19 like Franchi, Ruiz or Innocent.
With the "ghost" Jesé, it was a little less than fifteen players who officially launched the preparation for the match in Lens, whose outfit does not seem threatened.
🆕📺 𝙇𝙚 𝙅𝙏
The Friday, September 4, 2020 edition ⚽ pic.twitter.com/0qOLUBRgUD
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 4, 2020
It is all the less so as an interministerial crisis unit (CIC) met this Friday and validated the request for relief from the health protocol desired by the Professional Football League (LFP).
This, effective immediately, specifies in particular that the matches of L1 and L2 will be maintained as long as 20 players (including a goalkeeper) out of a workforce of 30, will be tested negative.
In Paris to now send its list of 30 names to the LFP Competitions Commission.
There will of course be all the "sick" that the club has placed in isolation pending their recovery.
If Paris has hardly given any fresh news of the contaminated, Carol Cabrino has been reassuring about the state of Marquinhos, her husband.
On Instagram, she revealed that after having known "a day of fever", the future Parisian captain "is better".
A trip to Lens without the stars
Like his contaminated partners, Marquinhos will not be able to return to Camp des Loges for at least a week.
Above all, he will only train with the Parisian group after having been able to attest to two negative tests for the coronavirus.
A process that deprives him and the others of the trip to Lens next Thursday.
A hard blow for Thomas Tuchel, but also a disappointment, no doubt for the Lensois supporters.
After having already been saddened by the postponement of the meeting initially scheduled for August 29, the blood and gold people are now deprived of the biggest stars of the championship for this gala meeting.
Bollaert fans also hoped to celebrate the arrival of the vice-champion of Europe in more festive proportions than usual.
But the Pas-de-Calais prefecture refused RC Lens's request to be able to exceed the gauge of 5,000 people, imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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According to France Bleu Nord, the promoted had asked the authorities to be able to accommodate 15,791 spectators in his stands at Bollaert-Delelis - whose classic capacity is 38,223 seats - for this first official home match since the ascent to Ligue 1. When nothing is right ...
