From Mbappe and Messi’s ailments to the Neymar issue, here are eight reasons why PSG enters the Champions League knockout stages against Bayern in the midst of a MASSIVE crisis.
PSG has grown notorious for its Champions League failures, and everything appears to be going wrong as they reach this year’s final 16.
Every year, a same scene plays out.
PSG’s retooled squad prepares for a Champions League push. Players are being added. A manager has been hired. Against the mediocrity of Ligue 1, new formations are being formed, adopted, and refined. PSG are then ousted, generally in tragic way.
At this point, the Champions League situation is more than a curse. It’s become a ritual, a predictable cycle that always ends in the same manner.
And everything seemed to be heading in the wrong direction once more. This is most likely PSG’s greatest and most complete roster in years. They have a more pragmatic manager who has drew the most out of a star-studded group at times. However, as PSG prepares to play Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 knockout encounter on Tuesday, the caution flags are mounting. From injuries and exhaustion to squabbles and bad luck, here’s why it may all go wrong again…
Mbappe’s Injury
Despite Mbappe’s stunning return to training on Monday morning, his fitness should remain a major issue for PSG. The top winger suffered a hamstring injury on February 1 and is anticipated to be out for three weeks. The fact that he will be back in 11 days is fantastic news for manager Christophe Galtier, but it also raises concerns that he has been pushed.
What type of role will Mbappe have? It seemed abrupt to let him start, but Galtier maintained that Mbappe isn’t just there to fill out statistics. A second-half appearance is inevitable, but would it be worth risking their star player with a second leg on the horizon?
Neymar’s Injury
What should be done about Neymar? At his best, the Brazilian is unplayable and one of the world’s finest footballers. He’s a liability on bad days. This is not to argue that PSG should rest Neymar or that he is no longer one of the finest players in the world. And he always appears to shine in big games.
However, personal concerns appear to be interfering with the team’s effectiveness at the time. He and Mbappe have had well-documented squabbles, and Neymar allegedly slammed Vitinha and Hugo Ekitike following the weekend’s loss to Monaco.
🇧🇷 Neymar has some record in the Champions League (112 games) 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/n8CsJam2Io
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 14, 2023
Messi’s Hamstring
Lionel Messi has been plagued by muscular injuries as he has matured, the most recent being a hamstring ailment reported last week.
PSG has been cautious with their superstar, keeping him out for any minor scratch or niggle. It’s difficult to blame them for his fitness difficulties. Messi is in his 30s and surely doesn’t need to play Nantes on a drab January Wednesday.
Nonetheless, Messi has been particularly tired since the World Cup. There have been some fantastic moments, most notably a stunning strike to defeat Toulouse in Ligue 1, but there has also been some post-tournament tiredness.
Last week, shortly before Tuesday’s game, the club ruled Messi out with a hamstring injury. The World Cup winner returned to training on Monday, and a comeback might be imminent. However, hamstrings are notoriously prone to re-injury, and his fitness will have PSG holding their breath in the coming months.
Leo Messi and @KMbappe are 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 👀
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 13, 2023
📸 @PSG_English pic.twitter.com/EyCacDNua8
