Tick tock, tick tock… At a time when the Spanish TV program "El Chiringuito" should intensify, on January 1, its count before the expected signing of Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid, it is another countdown that s kick off for Mauricio Pochettino's PSG.
In the short term, the resumption of training set for this Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Camp des Loges marks the start of the tiny forty-eight hour preparation before the 16th round of the Coupe de France in Vannes (National 2), Monday (9:10 p.m.).
In the medium term, by granting nine full days of rest to his troops, the coach is already thinking of ensuring them the best form, both mental and physical, when it comes to facing the challenges of the Champions League, to start with the 8th against the Rea (February 15 and March 9).
“We had a lot of games to play and we think it's the right time for the players to stay with their family for a few days,” he stressed before the break.
Read alsoPSG: Kylian Mbappé, now free, will take his time to choose between Madrid and Paris
In fact, this recovery promises to be above all in dispersed order.
First of all, there is the calendar established by the staff which allows the South Americans (Messi, Marquinhos, Paredes, Di Maria, Icardi, Neymar) as well as the Costa Rican Navas to arrive only on Sunday.
Regardless of this program, Kylian Mbappé, he did not wait to find his way back to the Lodges camp on Friday, where he offered himself an individual session upon his return from Dubai.
On the other hand, three players will certainly be missing: the Senegalese Diallo and Gueye and the Moroccan Hakimi, who have already joined their selection to prepare for the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (January 9 to February 6).
How many cases of Covid?
At the time of counting his troops in order to prepare for the Coupe de France match, Mauricio Pochettino already knows that he will also now have to do without Rafinha, who left on loan to Real Sociedad, nor Sergio Ramos, suspended . As for Draxler, Dagba, Bernat and Kurzawa, if their return from injuries was scheduled for this early January, it remains to be seen whether they will be immediately available. Under these conditions, and as before the truce, many young people are expected this Saturday at the Lodges camp: Bitshiabu, Michut, Gharbi, Simons, Yansané and Bitumazala.
But, for all, the first condition to be fulfilled in order to hope to apply for the next deadlines will be that of a negative test for Covid-19.
And this is undoubtedly what the Parisian staff fears the most.
If Kehrer and Dina Ebimbe had tested positive before the last match in Lorient, how many will they have been infected during their vacation?
The situations of Bordeaux (21 cases), Angers or Lyon are not reassuring.
Those of Barcelona or Real either.
There are only a few hours left before being fixed.
Tick tock, tick tock ...
