"I'm optimistic". This is what Mauricio Pochettino said on Saturday, after the victory against Lens (2-1), about Kylian Mbappé and his participation in the semi-final return of the Champions League, Tuesday (9 p.m.), in the north of the England. Except that optimism has since given way to concern. In any case, the suspense is total at the time of this writing. “We still have to assess Kylian. He will do an individual session today (this Monday) and we'll see if he can be with the team. We do not yet know if he will be available or not, ”said the Argentine coach on Monday at a press conference from Manchester. And to add, at the turn of another question on the subject: "We will make the decision tomorrow (Tuesday)."
"
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Bluff?
If this is the case, the Parisians have pushed the vice relatively far, Mbappé, already forfeited against Lens, having only entered the lawn of the Etihad Stadium after the quarter of an hour open to the media.
According to the indiscretions of
RMC
, the former Monegasque “first performed physical exercises, races and slaloms.
He stayed apart, alone, for most of the session. ”
To see if the test was conclusive, if the calf of the Parisian number 7 reacted well.
One thing is certain: this is the first time that Kylian Mbappé, victim of a contracture in the right calf according to the club, trod a lawn since the first leg against Manchester City, last Wednesday (1-2), at the Parc des Princes .
He had not trained at all on Sunday with the rest of his little comrades, as
L'Equipe
had reported
, the day after the Parisian success against the Sang et Or. And this Monday at Le Bourget, some might have believed that he was limping more or less ...
"If Kylian was not available, the team has the means and the qualities to play and try to win without him"
Mauricio Pochettino
"He will play," guesses Pep Guardiola. But the Spanish coach of Manchester City is the only one to say so. Moreover, it is more a wish than anything else, "for football, for the match". His Argentinian counterpart is not so confident. Not at all. He even begins to evoke a possible absence of Mbappé ... "Worried? Of course, he
blurted out
on
RMC
. You always want your players to be fit, fit to play. We'll decide in the next few hours. But we are a team, a great team. All the players in the squad can play. If Kylian was not available, the team has the means and the qualities to play and try to win without him. That's the goal: to qualify for the final. ”
"
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Obviously, it would be even harder without the star striker of Bondy, author of eight goals in ten Champions League matches this season, and 37 in 43 matches in all competitions.
Remember that Paris Saint-Germain, already deprived of Idrissa Gueye, expelled in the first leg and suspended for two matches, will have to win by scoring at least twice at the Etihad Stadium in order to dismiss Manchester City, future champion England, and reach the final, like last year.
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