Coach Christophe Galtier of Paris Saint-Germain hopes that Kylian Mbappé will be able to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 matchup.
Mbappé has made an unexpectedly quick recovery from his injury. Coach Christophe Galtier of Paris Saint-Germain hopes that Kylian Mbappé will be able to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 matchup.
Mbappé has made an unexpectedly quick recovery from his injury. After tearing a muscle in his left thigh on February 1, the World Cup star was expected to be out for three weeks. The jet-set forward’s quick return has surprised Galtier.
“Kylian completed the entire training session today with the team. At the news conference on Monday, Galtier stated, “I didn’t think he would be ready.”
We decided to let him participate if he felt ready. We will find out tomorrow morning if he will be on the team sheet or not.
Mbappé will not be placed on the bench for this reason. Galtier stated, “We’ll ask Kylian if he feels ready, Kylian’s made a huge effort.” He is prepared if he is on the team sheet.
Neymar wants to play with Mbappé and Lionel Messi, who has recovered from a sore hamstring.
Neymar said through a translator, “Kylian is an extremely important player for us, he’s a star.” When we play together, we obviously feel stronger.
Mbappé is only the second player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final, but Neymar is the most expensive player in the world at 222 million euros, or $237 million.
After some subpar performances, PSG absolutely needs its France star. I hope Kylian can play for a short amount of time. Neymar stated, “He told me he’s feeling well, so that’s a good sign.”
Our primary goal is to win the Champions League. Similar to the World Cup, you are eliminated at the first mistake.
After PSG’s losses to Marseille in the French Cup and Monaco in the league on Saturday, tensions have been high.
PSG’s third defeat in ten games, a 3-1 loss to Monaco, would have been much worse without goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
According to reports, Sporting director Luis Campos was so enraged by the poor performance that he later disagreed with Neymar and captain Marquinhos.
Neymar stated, “Yes, there was a discussion, and we didn’t agree with what we heard.” However, these things occur. Football is more than just about friendship and love.
Neymar stated that being direct is required, comparing it to an argument with his girlfriend.
Neymar stated, “The respect is there, but there are times when you don’t agree and discussions happen to improve things.”
It is true that our performances of late have not been particularly good. Naturally, defeats are disconcerting.”
He stated, “It’s not normal that everything happens outside of the dressing room; it should stay between us.” We are aware of our weaknesses, but I am confident that we will see the best of PSG tomorrow.
When his previous teams faced PSG, Galtier was adept at identifying their weaknesses. PSG hired him in July after he went unbeaten in five games against Lille and Nice without conceding a goal.
However, Galtier appears unable to address the same issues he skillfully exploited, and he faces a Bayern team that has scored 11 goals in three games.
Galtier stated that open discussions have taken place with the players. He stated, “When there is frustration, it needs to come out.”
Naturally, defeats bring disappointment and resentment. I listened to my players and I hope they listened to me during our discussions.
Galtier, 56, joked that he’s using “anti-wrinkle” cream to hide his stress and said that his players would react against Bayern.
Following Monaco’s defeat, World Cup top scorer Mbappé motivated teammates and fans by posting a message on Instagram.
He wrote, “Let’s remain strong and united.” PSG, which has a lot of money, wants to win the Champions League for the first time.
They also want to stay out of the last 16 for the second year in a row after losing to Real Madrid humiliatingly last season.
On Sunday, as the players arrived at training, some fifty PSG supporters made their feelings known by jeering.
Galtier stated, “I understand the fans’ anger.” After winning the away leg 2-0 in 2019, PSG became the first team to be eliminated. They lost to Manchester United 3-1 at Parc des Princes after conceding a penalty in the final minute.
PSG was the first team eliminated in 2017, losing 6-1 to Barcelona after winning the first leg 4-0.
In addition, Madrid’s Karim Benzema scored a hat trick in less than 20 minutes against PSG, who had previously prevailed in the first leg.
Bayern has won the German league a record 32 times and won the Champions League for the sixth time in 2020 when it beat PSG 1-0 in the final, with Kingsley Coman, a former PSG winger, scoring the winning goal.