Will come back, won’t come back? 48 hours before the start of match day 5 of the Champions League between PSG and Tottenham on Wednesday evening (9pm) at the Parc des Princes, the only doubt hanging over Luis Enrique’s squad is the presence – or not – of Ousmane Dembele in the group.
On paper, the 2025 Ballon d’or is worthy of the job. However, he no longer has a left calf injury, having partially resumed collective training last Friday. But between theory and practice, there is one step that it is currently too early to say will be taken on Wednesday.
Affected on November 4 during the defeat against Bayern Munich (1-0), Dembele was forced to leave his partner in the 25th minute. A new blow for the Paris number 10 who, during the UEFA Nations League, had already spent time in hospital in June before the Club World Cup, then in September, due to another injury with the Blues.
Mendes’ “jurisprudence” applied to Dembele?
A sequence that could encourage Luis Enrique not to rush his return and give him a few more training sessions to get back on track before sending him back into competition. Unless the Spanish technician decides to apply Nuno Mendes’ “jurisprudence” to the Dembele case, the Portuguese will return as a starter on Saturday against Le Havre. A match he also played the entirety of and in which he provided an assist for Kang-in Lee.
In front of the immovable goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, the Portuguese full-back should be present again this Wednesday evening on the left wing of a defense that could once again see Warren Zaire-Emery occupy the right-back position and above all will find his trademark hinge, Marquinhos – Pacho. A meeting that is not trivial for the Brazilian captain who if he takes part will play his 500th match in the Parisian shirt.
A configuration that would lead to the return of the three center shooters. Indestructible, the Vitinha – Neves tandem could continue after the start against Le Havre and is supported by Fabián Ruiz who “gave him a breath of fresh air” this weekend by starting on the bench.
Same reason, same consequences for Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who were saved this weekend and can “keep an eye” on Senny Mayulu if given the false nine position in the front line of attack.
Possible PSG teams: Knights – Zaire Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes – Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz – Barcola, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia.
