No Marquinhos, no problem?
After playing 60 minutes without him in Munich, with the result we know (3-2 victory), Paris-SG will have to do without the services of its essential captain this Tuesday (9 p.m.), against Bayern, in the quarterfinals final second leg of the Champions League.
“We all know Marqui's qualities.
It is the leader of the defense, the captain of the team, underlined Presnel Kimpembe, Monday, in a press conference, when there was still doubt about the availability of his partner.
Obviously, if he were to forfeit, it would be a lack, but we have very great players in this team, others will make up for his absence.
We do not yet know how it will turn out. "
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In this case, we know.
The package of the old Roman is recorded.
It was from Monday at the end of the afternoon.
However, "there is a PSG with and a PSG without Marquinhos", as Thomas Tuchel explained when he was officiating in Paris.
Defensively, in the air, in terms of leadership and even offensively, the ex-Romain - still a scorer in the first leg - is irreplaceable.
Numerically, it is Danilo Pereira who will tackle this impossible task, as after the exit of Marqui in Munich and Saturday, in Strasbourg (1-4).
A task that the Portuguese international, a training center, has moreover done rather (very) well in Germany.
But for the role of boss of defense and captain, it is "Presko" who takes over.
172 matches with PSG, including 30 in the Champions League
That he has actually come a long way, Kimpembe, since his professional debut in Lens (1-3), one evening in October 2014, through this first XXL in C1 against Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona, in 2017 (4-0).
A path strewn with pitfalls, with prestigious competitors (David Luiz, Alex, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos).
But patience paid off for the native of Beaumont-sur-Oise, now indisputable holder in the capital and vice-captain.
“A lot of joy, pride.
The road traveled is already long, he relishes, he who has already played 172 matches in Red and Blue (1 goal), including thirty in C1.
I hope there will be more great adventures to come, starting with this game against Bayern.
But I am very happy, very proud to have been able to take this path.
It's an honor for me, a young Parisian titi, to have the chance to play matches like that. ”
And to add, on the armband: “I am a competitor, I like the responsibilities.
Wearing the armband is a lot of confidence on the part of the coach and the club.
I wear it with great pride and pleasure.
I try to give a positive energy to the whole team. ”
Presnel Kimpembe's crazy tackle in Lille on video
And God knows that it will take positive energy to resist the assaults of the Bavarian giant, "the best team in Europe at the moment", dixit "Kim", as happy in the locker room as he is serious and anxious not to no fault at a press conference.
If he has sometimes been guilty of concentration swings unworthy of his level in the past, the 25-year-old world champion seems to have taken a step forward this season.
All while retaining what makes its strength, specific reminders and rigor in the duels.
A warrior, a player who gives everything.
And this in the image of his crazy tackle against Lille, last December (0-0).
“It was a four to one.
Normally, this leads to a big opportunity, breathed Thomas Tuchel, still in place at the time.
Fortunately, Kim saved the day, and possibly the game.
I am very happy with him. ”
"He has a very special character, a little bit crazy, and that's good because he's always courageous"
Thomas Tuchel on Presnel Kimpembe
Enough to claim a starting place alongside Raphaël Varane at the Blues at the Euro (June 11-July 11), and for Paris-SG to have reason to hope against Bayern on Tuesday, even without Marquinhos on the meadow.
“He is an important player, trained at the club and who knows the values, the identity of the club, underlines Pochettino.
He has great qualities and he is one of the important players in the team. ”
Tuchel was as won over as his successor by Kimpembe.
Asked about the progress of the international tricolor (15 sel.) At the start of the season, the German technician said this: “I have the same feeling, he is very strong.
He is really in the matches, very focused during the matches.
He has a very special character, a little bit crazy, and that's good because he's always brave.
He's always been totally reliable in big matches, and in let's say normal matches he sometimes lacked concentration.
Now, he has taken a big step forward, in recent weeks, in Portugal (during the Final 8 of the Champions League last August, editor's note) of course and before too, he is in a good state of mind, very concentrated, very strong with and without the ball.
I am very happy with his evaluation.
I hope he can continue like this. "
He is not the only one.
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In the meantime, it's time for Bayern Munich and this return quarter-final.
With Captain Kimpembe at the helm, then.
"We are all very well, calm, we are preparing for the match, calmly," he swore on Monday.
We know the importance of this kind of match.
There is excitement of course, but you have to stay calm and serious too.
(…) No match is like another, but we always enter the field to win.
We are competitors, we always aim for victory.
We have prepared this match well and we hope it will bear fruit.
(…) We did the job on the way there.
We hope it will go well on the way back.
The team is confident, ready.
We will play with our weapons while respecting Bayern.
We know that we will have to play together and be very solid to win. ”
Remember that a draw would be enough for the happiness of Kimpembe and company.
A 0-1 or 1-2 loss too.
“It would be great to eliminate Bayern,” he adds.
And that would open the doors of the C1 half to PSG, for the third time.
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