This Saturday, at 5.30 p.m., at a time when PSG should have faced Strasbourg for a final test run before Dortmund, the Parisians were peacefully enjoying the sun of the capital. Unexpected breathing linked to the postponement sine die of the meeting in Alsace because of coronavirus.
Ander Herrera took the opportunity to walk incognito at the Trocadéro, Marquinhos to babble with his children and receive a few friends and so on. Neymar, he had time to joke on Instagram in response to a memory message from Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, remembering his goal that had eliminated PSG a year earlier. A reaction variously appreciated by the supporters of his team.
The day before, the Parisians had returned to the Ile-de-France after taking the time to dine. They were summoned to Camp des Loges this Saturday morning for a muscular session, dedicated to making up for the efforts that should have been made in the face of Racing. Di Maria, Neymar or Thilo Kehrer, victims of minor injuries recently, were there. On the menu: toros, oppositions on a field with several mini-goals, then in big goals.
Rest day this Sunday
PSG did not feel too sorry for the cancellation of the match, even if it would have liked to be warned before traveling and argued for a closed session, option rejected by the Strasbourg. With a last match played Wednesday March 4 (5-1 victory in Lyon) and another three days to prepare Dortmund, some Parisians even believe that this postponement is favorable. He at least had the merit of airing the spirits after two and a half tense weeks. Thomas Tuchel has also decided to accentuate this psychological break by offering a day of rest not planned in the workforce, this Sunday.
The adjournment allowed Thiago Silva this Saturday to refine his rise in power in the company of his teammates rather than alone. The Brazilian is on a mission and more and more optimistic about his participation against the Germans. A faith which must be confronted with several reality criteria: a recovery period to be reduced from 21 to 17 days and very few collective sessions. The captain has only played one full game since the one against Monaco on January 15: the first leg against Dortmund. Today, the greatest caution still prevails at the Camp des Loges.
Supporters put pressure
Tuchel was quite clear on his plans before the aborted trip to Strasbourg: “If he plays, it has an influence on Marquinhos' position. Otherwise we have to find a solution. Clearly, it is likely that Marquinhos plays in the midfield if Thiago Silva plays behind him. Otherwise, he will descend alongside Kimpembe, replaced by Paredes in the midfield. Tuchel still has a few hours to arbitrate between Edinson Cavani, Mauro Icardi and the underdog Pablo Sarabia for the last place in the eleven.
In the background, the coronavirus is also changing habits at the Ooredoo center. The players were asked to no longer shake hands and have hydroalcoholic solutions and strict prevention advice. The situation obviously animates the conversations. The prospect of an empty Parc des Princes on Wednesday also hovers in discussions. "A camera would be very bad for PSG, fears a close to the club. The supporters have a very important role to play in this match. "
PSG Express
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They started to slowly build up the pressure. The Collectif Ultras Paris has published a press release with a fairly muscular tone: "Wednesday, we will be there when the doors open by your side, as in the first leg where the yellow wall was ultimately only an optical illusion and a slight buzzing sound. Players, staff, leaders, if you want to win, play like warriors, make them tremble, be merciless! "