PSG-Strasbourg: Mbappé on the bench, a precautionary principle

Kylian Mbappé could once again blow this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes against Strasbourg, the last match of the calendar year.

Her body can't take it anymore.

For three weeks and six games, the world champion has played the first meeting on the program, but remains on the bench the second.

He started in Manchester (1-3) before scoring his 100th goal for PSG by entering Montpellier (1-3).

He then scored a brace against Istanbul (5-1) before seeing his partners sink in front of Lyon (0-1).

He caused and transformed a penalty against Lorient (2-0) but played only 13 minutes this Sunday in Lille (0-0).

“There is no logic, confides his trainer Thomas Tuchel.

He played painlessly and without problem (against Lorient) then it was no longer possible for him to train afterwards, he did nothing for three days because he had pain 24 hours after the match.

We do not know why when he had no problems during the match but it was like that, pain without training after a physical match.

"

Muscle pain in the ankle, thigh, adductors

If he held the bar from a statistical point of view, his performances did not fall within his usual standards in terms of race volume and sprints.

Quite simply because he is not capable of it.

Since November 20 and until Lille - one month exactly - PSG has chained nine games that the striker has all played, six at kick-off, three during the game.

Today it shoots everywhere.

It is crossed by muscle pain in the ankle, thigh, adductors.

An unpleasant triptych when he has just celebrated his 22 years.

This physical wear is accompanied by mental weariness while PSG has not cut since last June and its resumption for the Final 8 of the Champions League.

When Mbappé stopped, it was because of injuries or the coronavirus which kept him away from three Ligue 1 matches and one in selection.

Ideally, he would need to cut but the position in the standings of PSG does not allow it.

He should in all likelihood start on the bench this Wednesday.

By insisting, PSG would take the risk of losing him for several weeks if one of the three places in pain ended up cracking.

His participation in the first leg against Barcelona on February 16 would then become hypothetical.

He would probably not have time to heal himself to get back in shape for this round of 16.

The two staffs involved, medical and technical, do not want to take any risk against Strasbourg.

Marco Verratti, holder against Strasbourg?

For the rest and despite three new injured - Presnel Kimpembe, Alessandro Florenzi and Layvin Kurzawa - Tuchel still has a small valid troop.

Thilo Kehrer, in the axis and associated with Marquinhos, should replace the world champion.

On the right, Colin Dagba will be offered a new chance.

As for Mitchel Bakker, he will continue to help out on the left flank.

If the coach is absolutely committed to his system in 3-5-2, Timothée Pembélé could complete the central trio.

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In the middle, Gana Gueye, attractive in the North, will be able to chain a third start in the league in a row, which has not happened to him since September.

Barring a last-minute physical glitch, Marco Verratti should escort him into the midfield.

Depending on the system chosen, the 3-5-2 with Pembélé or a 4-3-3 without the young defender, Leandro Paredes could provide this sector of play. In front, whatever the organization chosen, it will be a priori from the same mute attack trio in Lille with the pair Angel Di Maria-Moise Kean supported by Rafinha.

Likely composition of PSG against Strasbourg

Navas - Dagba, Marquinhos, Kehrer, Bakker - Gueye, Verratti, Paredes - Di Maria, Kean, Rafinha