Bayern-PSG: Kehrer, the unloved in search of a last chance

From Bayern in Lisbon to Bayern in Munich.

The 2020 edition of the Champions League final was Thilo Kehrer's last tenure in the biggest of club competitions.

This Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) in Bavaria, the German, originally from Tübingen in the heart of the neighboring province of Baden-Württemberg, should start in the right lane of the defense of PSG.

A default choice for the staff of Mauricio Pochettino deprived of Alessandro Florenzi, positive for Covid-19.

But a choice all the same.

That of experience against other potential candidates, the frail Colin Dagba (22 years) or the young Timothée Pembélé (18 years).

So why is everyone (or almost) worried about seeing this German international (9 caps) on the lawn of the Allianz-Arena?

In large part because Thilo Kehrer is going through a difficult period in the game and mentally.

His lack of confidence is obvious with every appearance.

Facing Lille (0-1) last Saturday, he suffered martyrdom, missing even the simplest passes a few meters from his teammates.

A point that observers are not the only ones to notice.

As revealed by L'Equipe in mid-March, part of the locker room is annoyed with the level displayed by Kehrer and this topic of discussion is no longer rare among the players.

He could leave this summer

Asked this Tuesday about the crisis of confidence going through by his player, Mauricio Pochettino did not wish to develop.

"I still believe in the strength of the collective and I do not like to talk about individualities, especially before such a match, launches the Argentinian.

All players go through difficult times.

I see it well, I see it with confidence.

On the side of the supporters, the speech differs.

The performance of the 24-year-old right-hander is surprising, sometimes horrifying.

To the point of reaching the most serious: Kehrer is regularly the victim of violent insults.

A phenomenon that fans wanted to counter this Tuesday by launching a #TousAvecKehrer campaign on social networks.

Remote support whose real role remains to be determined.

In the Champions League, Kehrer has already managed to achieve great matches, as in Manchester (2-0) in February 2019, chosen as right-back by Thomas Tuchel.

Unfortunately, the collective memories also remember his presence against Manchester United, in the axis of the defense, in the return match (1-3).

This summer, Kehrer was also started by his compatriot in the Lisbon Final 8, after the departure of Thomas Meunier for Dortmund.

His record was more neutral but without obvious error.

Nicknamed "the beast" by his teammates after returning from the first confinement because of his new muscle mass, Kehrer does not always have a reliable physique.

He suffered from the arch of the foot in the fall of 2019. Then from the adductors between September and December 2020. A period interspersed with four appearances which only worsened the pain and his psychological state.

Slowed down by the Covid-19 in January, he fails to convince Pochettino and his staff.

At the end of the contract in June 2023, Kehrer should find a place this summer on the transfer market.

It remains to be seen at what price.

He was recruited for 37 million euros in the summer of 2018.