PSG-OM: little hope of seeing Neymar and Di Maria play the clasico

"If they can already resume individual training, it will be a big step."

When discussing the situation of Neymar, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Marquinhos, Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas and Kylian Mbappé, all positive for Covid-19, Thomas Tuchel left little suspense.

"We hope but we will be careful and responsible", recalled the coach of PSG, about the low hope of participation of players affected by the coronavirus for the clasico against OM on Sunday.

All absent this Thursday in Lens (9 p.m.), we must divide these cases into three groups.

Kylian Mbappé, the last declared positive for Covid-19, this Monday, is already ruled out for the Sunday shock.

Then there are Neymar, Paredes and Di Maria on one side, Marquinhos, Icardi and Navas on the other.

"Tomorrow (Thursday), when we will be in Lens, some will resume individual training here," Tuchel said at a press conference.

This is the first group cited, the first three reported cases, with weak or no symptoms.

Isolated for eight days, they will be able to rework each on their own as specified in the protocol of the Professional Football League.

The match against OM at the Parc des Princes will take place 15 days after the declaration of the first symptoms, resulting in the first tests for Di Maria and Paredes.

In fact, they could then, by providing two negative tests for Covid-19, take part in the meeting.

But, without possible collective training by then, the risk of injury remains high.

For Marquinhos, Icardi and Navas, who tested positive later, the individual recovery cannot take place before Friday or Saturday.

Playing against Marseille seems impossible.

Kimpembe not identified as a possible contaminating element

A final case raises some questions: Presnel Kimpembe.

Summoned with the France team during the last ten days, the world champion has rubbed shoulders with Kylian Mbappé, whose positivity to the coronavirus was not declared until the second test carried out with the Blues, Monday evening.

The Parisian defender can therefore be considered a “contact case”.

But this Wednesday, "Presko" has resumed training with the workforce of PSG and will undoubtedly hold this Thursday in Lens with the captain's armband.

According to our information, the capital club believes it has taken all the necessary precautions around Kimpembe, who was anyway negative in the tests carried out on Monday with the Blues.

Like Ander Herrera last week ("contact case" of Di Maria and Paredes), Kimpembe has not been identified by PSG as a possible contaminating element.

Case to be continued.

For the rest of the Parisian workforce present at the Camp des Loges since Tuesday, including internationals Draxler, Kehrer or Dagba, none of the tests carried out have been positive.

A group of twenty players should travel to Lens.

Arnaud Kalimuendo, French under-20 international, could experience his first start in Ligue 1 at the forefront of the attack.

Members of the club's under-19 team such as Xavi Simons or Timothée Pembélé will be on the trip.