PARIS (AP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel has only a “very small” hope that Kylian Mbappé will step out of the injury in time to face Atalanta in the Quarter-finals of the Champions League on 12 August.
The 21-year-old striker, who has 30 goals in 34 games this season, ruled on Monday for about 3 weeks after injuring his ankle ligament last week against Saint-Etienne in the French Cup final.
Tuchel questioned at a press conference thursday before Friday’s League Cup final against Lyon if he had any hope that Mbappé could play Atalanta in Lisbon.
“Yes, always, but it will be very, very small, that’s for sure, ” he said. “Every day counts to produce maybe a miracle, but we’ll have to adapt without it.”
Midfielder Marco Verratti praised Mbappé’s attitude in days.
“It’s amazing, smiling (but) you know in the end that you’re going to have to paint hard. We’re still in his looks and he paints to get back as soon as possible,” Verratti said Thursday. We were all disappointed by him, we all thought of him. We hope to win more trophies and we have smart things ahead of us. A player like Kylian would introduce any aspect.
Lyon does not have to worry about Mbappé’s frantic speed while continuing their first trophy since winning the French Cup in 2012.
Lyon have lost the last 4 League Cup finals, the last in 2014.
“Mbappé’s absence does not replace our plans. The club wants this trophy,” said Lyon Léo Dubois’ defender. “We had a lot of time to prepare. We have worked well the last 8 weeks, our bodies are in condition of this final.
Returns
When Depay ruptured the knee ligaments opposite the Rennes in December, his absence was estimated in six months and – before the coronavirus interrupted the game – that would have ruled him for the rest of the season. Offensive midfielder Jeff Jason Reine-Adelaide also injured his knee in the same way, and in the same game, but coach Rudi Garcia says they both have compatibility again.
Lyon will face Italian champions Juventus in Turin next week in the Champions League for the second leg of their last 16 matches, leading 1-0 in the first leg before the coronavirus pandemic.
“They worked hard to get back,” Garcia said. “They are in a position for the two big games ahead.”
Depay inspired a recent friendly when he scored with an impressive purpose against Celtic.
Prior to his injury, he had been the club’s player with 14 goals in 18 games in total, scoring all five Champions League organizing matches in which he played.
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