This Monday, as usual, Luis Enrique mixed up the teams. Suffice it to say that he has blurred his lines. Not changing anything in its usual mode of operation, on the eve of a match, on D-1 of any match, even a Champions League quarter-final second leg.
In detail, the Spanish coach put together three teams of seven elements, engaged in a ball conservation exercise on a reduced pitch. A classic, again, from his sessions. Only the outfield players were involved in this goalless game, with the goalkeepers training separately.
The session continued with strikes, this time with the goalkeepers summoned to Spain in the group of 23 players: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas and Arnau Tenas. As if the technician wanted to validate the thesis of the accident during the match at the Parc des Princes, he changed nothing from his pre-match work. However, against Barcelona this Tuesday evening, something will have to change.
As such, the return of Achraf Hakimi from suspension will allow the defense to regain its consistency, with Marquinhos as right central defender. Above all, the tenure of Warren Zaire-Emery will restore pep to the heart of the game, with impact and contribution in the construction of the game, two areas where Paris lacked talent and strength during the first leg.
Finally, up front, Bradley Barcola is fit to start this quarter-final return, less than a week after a striking entry into play at the break in place of Marco Asensio who was overwhelmed by events. The international Espoirs tricolor is applying to accompany Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé in the offensive sector. Quite frankly, Enrique only said about the team which will start at the Montjuïc Olympic stadium: “There are twenty-three players. This means that all 23 can play. I don’t know if they will play more or fewer minutes…”
The probable composition of PSG
Donnarumma – Hakimi, Marquinhos (cap.), Hernandez, Nuno Mendes – Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz – Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola