Sergio Rico could well become the other unexpected hero of Paris Saint-Germain in this Champions League. After Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, decisive in additional time for the quarter-final on Wednesday, the Spanish goalkeeper is called to the rescue for the semi-final of PSG against Leizpig on Tuesday, August 18. The very reliable Keylor Navas, still brilliant against Atalanta Bergamo (2-1), suffered a hamstring injury and will be too short. The goalkeeper with three titles in C1 hopes to return for a potential final.
In the meantime, here is Sergio Rico. The Spanish porter, almost 27, has been ready since Thursday, when the diagnosis of his counterpart fell. Will it do the trick? It would be better for PSG, who will face the third Bundesliga attack, able to score two goals at Atlético de Madrid from goalkeeper Jan Oblak, considered one of the best in the world. “His story in Seville ended badly, but he remains a good goalkeeper, assures a manager of the Andalusian club who loaned him to Paris Saint-Germain in September 2019. He can achieve a great match, which everyone wish him here ”.
In two weeks, the Sévillan will leave Paris
Born and trained in Seville, Sergio Rico has some experience in European cups. With 24 appearances in the Champions League, including 23 tenure, he experienced the atmosphere of the big evenings of C1. In the spring of 2018, the tall goalkeeper (1.95 m) was one of the heroes of Sevilla FC's double victorious confrontation against Manchester United in the round of 16.
Officially, Sergio Rico has three Europa Leagues to his name. But the epic of the Andalusians, winners three times in a row between 2014 and 2016, he has played only one campaign. In 2015, he started in a twists and turns final against the Ukrainians of Dnipropetrovsk (3-2).
With PSG, a club he will leave in two weeks, the brief Spanish international (a selection) addresses a historic moment for the rest of his career. Responsible for replacing Navas in national cups or unimportant Ligue 1 matches, Sergio Rico did not leave a great memory. Thomas Tuchel has always recalled that the hierarchy was clear and Navas resumed his place at the time of the semi-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue or the Coupe de France. During his tenure against Bordeaux (4-3) in the league, Rico was illustrated by a goal gag and a non-exit in his 5 m, but also by two reflex parades on his line. Against AS Saint-Etienne (6-1) in the Coupe de la Ligue, he stopped a penalty from Cabaye. A meager pedigree that he could expand on Tuesday evening.