Four PSG Stars Sidelined as Barcelona Champions League Showdown Looms
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique faces the absence of four crucial players for Wednesday's prestigious Champions League encounter against Barcelona, though the situation could have been more dire for the Parisian club.
The attacking trio that featured in last summer's European final—Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé—have been sidelined alongside team captain Marquinhos in the medical bay.
Doué and Dembélé were eliminated from the midweek fixture during September's international window after both sustained muscle problems while representing France.
Kvaratskhelia suffered his setback over the weekend, hobbling off at the interval during PSG's 2–0 triumph against Auxerre on Saturday. Vitinha departed even earlier in that match, exiting in the 36th minute and raising concerns that the Portuguese playmaker would also miss Wednesday's journey to Barcelona. Nevertheless, in a welcome fitness update for the Paris side, Vitinha made it into Enrique's traveling squad.
Marquinhos, though, was excluded due to a thigh problem that is anticipated to sideline him until after October's international period at minimum.
Luis Enrique: I'm Not Worried
Most managers might bemoan losing four guaranteed starters, three of whom placed in the upper echelon of this year's Ballon d'Or rankings. Yet Enrique refused to entertain such grievances. "That's football, that's competition, that's reality!" he declared dismissively.
"You must adjust. I'm not concerned, that's elite-level football. Football is a discipline where injuries are commonplace because it involves physical contact.
"I'm completely untroubled, and that's the attitude I want to convey to both the squad and supporters. There are numerous talented players at the training ground. Everything is strategically prepared by the organization. That's existence, it's standard."
PSG's depth roster justifies Enrique's confidence. Bradley Barcola stands as an immediate substitute for Doué and actually netted more goals than his fellow countryman last campaign. Gonçalo Ramos represents a formidable central option while there exists a collection of promising French prospects for Enrique to choose from to round out the attacking line.