PSG: avant-Dortmund parasitized by coronavirus

The Dortmund route had to pass through Strasbourg for PSG. A final rehearsal before turning to the knockout round of the Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m.). Missed. While they had already landed in Alsace, Friday evening, the Parisians learned of the postponement of the meeting, an epidemic of coronavirus forced. “Among the public expected at the Meinau, 25% of tickets were bought by supporters of the Haut-Rhin. The Bas-Rhin prefecture preferred not to take the slightest risk of contagion, "explained Didier Quillot, executive director of the LFP, on Canal + . A decision welcomed with philosophy by the president of the RCSA, Marc Keller: "We understand that the health of people is an absolute priority." With a little more skepticism on the side of PSG, which pushed for the match to be played behind closed doors. In vain. The prefecture did not want to know anything. And the Parisian delegation left in the evening on Friday.

️ "We will postpone the match to the first date made available on the one hand by the calendar, on the other hand by the evolution of the sanitary situation"

Explanations from @DidierQuillot, Director General of @LFPfr on the cancellation of # RCSAPSGpic.twitter.com / SjTxtBFOw3

In a sense, this postponement allows the players of Thomas Tuchel to breathe, a little, them who have played 17 games in 2020, against 10 for Dortmund, including a victory at Mönchengladbach Saturday (1-2). But it is not that simple. Firstly because they still had to go back and forth, with the fatigue that this generates. It is not trivial. And then because it will not be easy to find a date to play this match of the 28th day of Ligue 1. "It depends on the busy schedule of PSG and the evolution of health risk", simply says Quillot, promising that "All the matches will take place and (that) the championship must come to an end on the scheduled date, May 23." A beautiful puzzle in perspective if Paris continues its road in C1 beyond the 8th finals, with already two matches postponed in L1 and the two finals to come.

Neymar in search of rhythm

Last but not least, some Parisian players are more in search of rhythm than rest. Like Neymar. The Brazilian superstar had been put in the fridge for two weeks before going to face the BVB, after an injury to the odds against Montpellier, on February 1. We had seen the result ... Despite a (precious) goal, "Ney" had signed only an average performance, like his team that night in Germany (2-1 defeat). "It was a club decision, and I didn't like it," thundered the Brazilian at the Westfalenstadion. Since then, he played against Bordeaux (4-3), took a red (two yellows) which deprived him of the trip to Dijon (4-0) and returned the cover to Lyon (5-1). "It is absolutely necessary and it is the most important that he plays, that he regains the rhythm and that he is with us in this decisive phase", said Tuchel before OL-PSG.

And it is not the roughness of the Alsatian team that would have slowed down the German coach, nor the injury of "Ney" against Racing last year. "It is not dangerous. If he's ready, he'll play, "said the Bavarian on Friday. Like his teammates, he therefore had to settle for training at Camp des Loges.

Still some uncertainties for the Parisian eleven

The PSG program has not changed much, in the end. Though. Saturday's session was (much) more intensive than expected. So, rest for everyone on Sunday, before a closed-door training on Monday, and a session on Tuesday morning (11am). It will be with Thiago Silva, who has resumed collective work in recent days and applies for a place in the group, even the eleven, against Dortmund. "He absolutely wants to play. But we have to be patient and decide maybe Tuesday or Wednesday morning, ”says Tuchel. The latter could also have used the match in Strasbourg to refine certain details, raise some questions about the composition of his starting eleven. If "O Monstro" was not convened, the German coach could have worked on the automation in the middle, where it will compensate for the absence of Marco Verratti, suspended. Also suspended, Thomas Meunier will be replaced by Thilo Kehrer. There is also the question of the center forward, with the fluctuating hierarchy between Edinson Cavani and Mauro Icardi.

#onestPARIS#EnsembleNousSommesInvicibles@PSG_insidepic.twitter.com/kLtig2YRKJ

It remains to be seen whether the Parc des Princes will be full like an egg, ready to play its role as the 12th man. Listening to the red and blue supporters is a big yes. "Wednesday, we will be there when the doors open by your side," says the Collectif Ultras Paris. Except that the decision is obviously not theirs. Neither at the club. Instructs the French authorities and UEFA, the organizer of the meeting, to decide. Quickly if possible, before the German fans land in Paris ... "If there are decisions, we will have to accept them. But we are stronger with our audience, that's clear, ”insists Tuchel. Even without the support of its fans, Paris Saint-Germain has every interest not to miss this meeting with its history and to take the quarter.

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