Paris Saint-Germain defeated Montpellier HSC 3-1 last Saturday but it was far from easy for Les Parisiens and there were a couple of casualties in the first half that could impact the next few matches.
In the opening 25 minutes, manager Thomas Tuchel had to use two of his substitutions on Presnel Kimpembe and Idrissa Gueye. Both players went down with what originally looked like muscle injuries.
After the match, Tuchel gave an update on the two players, as reported by Culture PSG, starting with Gueye.
“We do not know if it is the consequence of the first injury a few weeks ago but it was not an injury, it was a hit. Today, I spoke with him and he went out before a new injury, it is not one. He felt something before a sprint, and he was afraid to do it so it was better to get him out. Marquinhos is not here, Marco [Verratti] is not here, Ander Herrera is not here, Leo Paredes has not played for a long time, we made the decision to start Idrissa. I hope it’s not too bad.”
Tuchel wasn’t as optimistic about Kimpembe.
“Kimpembe, it is muscular, it is different, it is the adductors. I do not know what to say, he did not play against Nantes, he is super fit. We have to wait. Hard to imagine him coming back for the match against Galatasaray, unlike Gueye.”
PSG hosts Galatasaray on December 11 in a match that means absolutely nothing to them. They’ve already clinched the top spot in Group A of the UEFA Champions League so I would rest both players if I were Tuchel.
The next match after that is on December 15 against AS Saint-Étienne. Marco Verratti, Ander Herrera, and Marquinhos should all be available then. Marquinhos missed the match against Montpellier due to the birth of his second child and Verratti and Herrera are recovering from injury.
On defense, Tuchel can cover for Kimpembe’s absence with Abdou Diallo, Thilo Kehrer, Tanguy Kouassi, Loïc Mbe Soh, and even Marquinhos who is a natural center-back.
On Monday, we should receive PSG’s latest medical report and we’ll be sure to keep this site updated.
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.
