Faced with a cascade of injuries since the start of the season, PSG saw one of its executives coming out prematurely on Wednesday against Barça.
It is a strongly reduced PSG which appeared on the Olympic stadium of Montjuic on Wednesday to face the Barça. No less than five usual holders were indeed on the side due to more or less serious injuries.
As expected, while in defense, Captain Marquinhos missed the call, before, the whole line of attack had to be recomposed due to the absences of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
And while PSG seemed at least to be able to rely on its three centerpieces in the midfield, Joao Neves finally forfeited a few minutes before the start and was replaced by Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Fabian Ruiz touched on adductors
“Joao is fine, but we made the decision not to take any risk because he is a very important player – and all the players are important, explained Luis Enrique to Canal+ after the meeting. It is important to have the total confidence to play a match of this intensity and we decided not to make it play. It is the strength and mentality of this team, whatever the players, we are there. We are a real team. »»
However, this precautionary principle was not enough to avoid a new injury. While resting last weekend due to muscle fatigue, Fabian Ruiz was forced to go out shortly after the hour of play, visibly touched physically. When he had just concluded an action initiated by Nuno Mendes, the Spanish international held the left adductor and asked to be replaced. The opportunity for Gonçalo Ramos to get into play and become the hero of the evening.
The news is good on the other hand concerning Vitinha, who had been forced to go out on Saturday against Auxerre and who has long been uncertain for the meeting against Barça. And in spite of an obvious apprehension. “I felt better at the end. At first, I was a little afraid that the injury getting worse. I did not feel comfortable, but I advanced as I went into the match. Like the team. I’m glad I made the match, for having felt anything on the injury and especially for having won the match ”, he commented afterwards.
