"It's a very special start, that's clear," recognizes Thomas Tuchel.
It is nothing to say it!
18 days after their final lost in the Champions League, on August 23 in Lisbon, against Bayern Munich (0-1), the Parisians return to the French championship and in fact begin their 2020-21 season this Thursday (9 p.m.), on the field of the promoted Lensois, during the last poster of the second round.
A match which should have taken place on August 29, but which had been postponed at the request of the capital club.
What did not fail to make waves, in particular on the side of the Town hall of Lens… Let us recall that the trip to Metz, planned for the first day, had also been postponed.
“It was the best thing to postpone the match to give the players a few days,” Tuchel promises, adding that his flock would in any case have been entitled to a week's rest if Lens-Paris had not been pushed back.
“It was necessary to rest and change your mind,” he continues.
Seven players positive for coronavirus, including Neymar and Mbappé
Problem?
Paris does not appear in the best possible conditions.
A no-brainer.
Already because the Red and Blue cut after their European campaign, without preparation, without friendlies.
They need to start competing right away.
But above all, they are deprived of several players.
And not the least.
Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Leo Paredes, Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas, Marquinhos and Kylian Mbappé, sorry, have all tested positive for the coronavirus.
Loaned last season and permanently transferred to PSG in recent days, Sergio Rico is not qualified.
In goals, it is therefore the young (20 years) Polish Marcin Bulka who will officiate at Bollaert.
For the rest, coach Tuchel will do with the available players (Sarabia, Verratti, Gueye, Bernat, Herrera…), including those who were on track with their national team in recent days (Kimpembe, Draxler, Kehrer, Dagba, Bakker).
And several regulars of the U19 team (Simons, Ruiz, Fadiga, Pembele, Kalimuendo).
"
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A little more and Thomas Tuchel would put on a jersey to fill the holes!
"My foot is not ready for the match, two more weeks, but things are getting better and better," smiles the German technician, who is still recovering from a broken foot.
"We must be humble, play for each other, seriously, and not expect too much of us", he adds, without laughing this time.
Note that only six of the 29 goals scored by PSG in L1 since the start of the year have been scored by players available for this match (Sarabia x3, Kehrer, Kurzawa, Herrera).
It remains to be seen if all these beautiful people, or at least some of these players, could be put back in view of the Classic against OM, next Sunday (9 p.m.), at the Parc des Princes.
"We hope," breathes Thomas Tuchel, without believing too much and stressing that these players will necessarily be out of step in terms of physical preparation.
“The priority is the health of the players.
We must be responsible.
The most important thing is not that he is on the ground, but to be attentive, vigilant and responsible for them, ”insists the Bavarian coach again.
"We want to use this dynamic to continue"
Thomas tuchel
Especially since the season of Paris Saint-Germain is obviously not played this Thursday against Lens.
No more than this will be the case on Sunday, against Olympique de Marseille.
Moreover, we are still waiting for recruits to allow Neymar, Mbappé and company to continue their Portuguese momentum and to aim for the highest European peaks in 2021. In addition to the temporary absences of several executives, Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Thomas Meunier or Tanguy Kouassi must be replaced.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, he is called to stay one more year.
This is the trend of the moment.
“The big difference between the last two seasons was the size of the squad.
We had more reliable players in 2019-20.
It was the basis for having competition, but also alternatives.
Now we have proof that with a group like that, the mentality, the quality, if the players are all together and a little bit lucky, we can create something special, with a lot of titles, and have an extraordinary season. in C1.
It will be important to recreate a group like this.
We want to use this dynamic to continue. ”
Stephan El Shaarawy on the shelves?
That will be Leonardo's job.
And contrary to custom, there are not many rumors around PSG at the moment.
In recent hours,
Téléfoot
still evoked the track of the Italian international striker Stephan El Shaarawy, exiled in China.
Eduardo Camavinga?
“He's one of the best players in Ligue 1, he's super strong, he has a great future, but he plays for a good club, qualified in C1, smiles Tuchel.
This is not Monopoly!
But I'm not going to say no. "
A priori, however, it will not be for now, the 17-year-old nugget being called upon to stay in Rennes this summer.
In the meantime, make way for the field, make way for this trip to Lens, and this match of the second day.
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