Huge boost for PSG as Neymar will be playing against Tuchel’s formal club

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The German giants will have to Compete with Neymar on Tuesday when they meet Paris Saint-Germain from the last-16 of Their Champions League Neymar will play in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Thomas Tuchel has verified. The Brazilian worldwide has been out of action since suffering a rib injury on February 1, missing four games since then in national competitions. He was confirmed in PSG’s squad before on Monday, as the Ligue 1 champions prepare to go up against Tuchel’s former team to get a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe is also back in the squad after being rested for Saturday’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Amiens, but the focus was on Neymar’s possible participation. Tuchel says he’ll play, barring any last-minute difficulties in training. “Neymar is here, he’s feeling well,” the German trainer told reporters. “He coached today [Monday] and will be playing tomorrow if nothing happens during training. “Obviously, it changes everything if he plays and I expect it is going to be a positive thing. “If we’ve got Ney on the area, he’s got the capability to perform decisive things. That affects everything: for his team-mates, for Kylian. “It gives me confidence, but also the team. That seems obvious to me.” Neymar has been in extraordinary form this season, scoring 13 times and setting up another six goals in his 14 Ligue 1 games. The most expensive player of all time has just played twice in the Champions League this term, however, scoring once. PSG were pumped out in the last-16 last season by Manchester United and Tuchel says his group are willing to improve on that finish this time around. “The larger the match, the greater the pressure, the less you need to add,” he added. “Before a game like this we must prepare yourself, but prepare for it a few months before kick-off. I have the impression that we’ve been ready for many weeks. Now’s the time to establish it. “It is difficult in this phase, I don’t know if it is possible for 90 minutes, but we must play with plenty of intelligence. “Things get emotional, we’ll need to adapt. It’s a really high-tech game in a stadium with enormous fans. We must keep calm and careful.”

Leonardo is all praise for the adorable Mbappe

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The phenom has been criticised for a poor reaction to being substituted in a Ligue 1 match but the club’s sporting director praised him. Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has defended the adorable Kylian Mbappe from criticism, saying the group’s fans should rejoice that he’s with the club. The 21-year-old striker’s attitude has been questioned in some quarters following a spat with manager Thomas Tuchel followed being substituted against Montpellier on February 1. Leonardo conceded that Mbappe’s behaviour was less than perfect, but stated that claims he was spoiled were wide of the mark. “I heard things about Mbappe, on his personality,” he told Canal+ following PSG’s 4-2 win over Lyon on Sunday. “It makes me feel uncomfortable. If a player leaves the area, and talks to the coach, ok… He is to blame. We’ll discuss it and settle this. “But to say he is a spoiled child, I do not accept that. Because he’s an adorable, very committed person and a wonderful player.” The prior Brazil international then requested a journalist in attendance who they thought the top five players in the world were. “In the Top 4, there is just one 35 years old, another 32 years old and the other two they’re 28 and 21 years old,” Leonardo responded. “And both of these are with us. I am a joyful sports manager. We should take advantage of that. “It is the joy of soccer. We must stop talking about the issues.” PSG will face Borussia Dortmund at the last-16 of the Champions League, a competition they are regarded as desperate to win. “We say that this group is not ready, that Ligue 1 isn’t at the level,” he added. “That the club does not know how to manage its stars. I want to comprehend why? Since we have the right to be pleased from time to time. “We have an incredible squad. Our best players are in shape. Why do we have to get concerned every time when the last sixteen arrives? Why do we need to worry? It won’t be a matter of life and death against Borussia Dortmund. “We’re just playing a Champions League match. I believe that the team is ready. If we win, that is good. Otherwise, too bad, PSG will keep growing. We have to get out of this.”

‘I do not fear Haaland’ – Meunier

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The Belgium global states that while the Bundesliga side is dangerous going forward, they can be exploited defensively. Paris Saint-Germain full-back Thomas Meunier has stated that he does not fear the challenge posed to him by Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. Since moving into the Bundesliga side in the January transfer window from Red Bull Salzburg, the 19-year-old has been in prolific form, scoring seven times in just three Bundesliga games and adding another for good measure in a 3-2 DFB Pokal defeat to Werder Bremen on Tuesday. The teenager has scored in every game he’s played for Dortmund, despite totaling less than 200 minutes of soccer because of his new side, and with a Champions League meeting against PSG looming at the end of the month, he’ll have the opportunity to show himself in the knockout stages after scoring eight goals for Salzburg in the group stage. Meunier, who has been with PSG since moving from Club Brugge in the summer of 2016 and has experienced the disappointment of crashing out in the last-16 stage of the competition in each of those three seasons, says that Haaland is not a player who holds particular worry for the Ligue 1 leaders. “He’s got very good numbers, which underline that Dortmund score an enormous number of goals, but they are also a team that concedes plenty of goals. It’s up to us to ensure that we qualify.” Before that encounter with the Germans, PSG have a Sunday fixture with Lyon to negotiate then a Coupe de France quarter-final away to Dijon. They will then travel to Amiens and eventually will face Dortmund on February 18. Their opponents, meanwhile, have a much quieter build-up to the fixture, with league experiences against Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt prior to the Champions League tie. The return leg of this fixture will not be played until March 11 at Parc des Princes. PSG will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s loss to Manchester United when they won 2-0 at Old Trafford before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at home.

‘Has become a national tradition’ – Neymar is injured again

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The Brazilian, who turns 28 on Wednesday, will once more mark the event from the treatment table. Neymar has been left out of the Paris Saint-Germain squad for Tuesday’s battle against Nantes because of a rib injury, just two weeks following the Brazilian held a lavish party to celebrate his birthday. The white-themed event in a nightclub was attended by a number of Neymar’s team-mates such as Marco Verratti, Edinson Cavani, and Angel Di Maria. Neymar, who turns 28 on Wednesday, is notorious for throwing massive parties to mark personal milestones. In 2019, 500 individuals were invited to an event sponsored by Red Bull, whilst Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and also the president of Brazil were one of the guests to celebrate his 26th birthday two decades back. The prior Barcelona forwards has now been injured on his birthday each year since linking PSG, with suffered foot injuries in 2018 and 2019 that kept him out for many weeks. Despite talk about holding a low-key celebration this season, PSG manager Thomas Tuchel, that was not present on Sunday, branded case a”distraction” given it had been sandwiched between two league matches. On the other hand, the German insisted that his team choice for the Nantes game wouldn’t be influenced by the celebration. “I always protect my players, and I truly love my group. With this celebration, I accept it is a bit difficult to protect the players, but the context isn’t simply black or white,” he told a news conference. “Is it the best method to prepare for a game? No, obviously not. Is it the worst thing in the world? No. “This is a shame, as we’re giving people the chance to speak poorly of us. We need to adapt to the circumstance, but I am not likely to depart a player on the bench or at home because they went out and celebrated.” The France international reacted angrily to being substituted and had a heated exchange with Tuchel about the touchline. “There is nothing personal between me and him. These things happen,” added the former Borussia Dortmund boss. “It was a player who do not want to come off, and a coach who had his motives for doing something, and that wanted to give a match to gamers that deserved it.”

PSG win, but Neymar and Mbappe cause problems for Tuchel

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Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel admitted Neymar’s latest luxury birthday celebrations were a “distraction” at a vital time in the summer after the Brazilian helped the Ligue 1 leaders into a 5-0 win over nine-man Montpellier on Saturday. Neymar, with his hair dyed pink, shook off an injury scare and raged with all the match officials while Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Layvin Kurzawa all scored along with a Daniel Congre own goal as PSG moved 13 points clear of Marseille at the peak of the table. On Sunday, the Brazilian is set to host a party for his birthday despite his team, at a Parisian nightclub.”It’s a diversion, that is clear,” explained Tuchel. “I always want to protect my own players, also when there are difficult things to talk about that I prefer to say them internally.”These are all distractions, and they give the impression we aren’t serious, not professional. However, I do not really wish to discuss it then these things become big problems.” Neymar warmed up with a shirt bearing the name of Kobe Bryant. While Neymar did not score, needing to settle just for one assist, he produced his usual tricks, provoked the resistance, and needed lengthy treatment at the end of the first half after appearing to hurt his ribs as he grappled for the ball with Montpellier’s Arnaud Souquet. Unhappy with the some of the treatment Neymar was caught by television cameras angrily remonstrating using the fourth official at the tunnel at half-time in Portuguese and was booked for dissent in the first half. Tuchel was also made to answer questions about Mbappe’s furious reaction to being taken off midway through the second half, as a January move to Atletico Madrid fell through, as Edinson Cavani arrived to get a first look.”This group shows how focused and professional they are every day, but this provides the impression it is not always like this and I am miserable because it is not vital. I explained to him why he came off and that would be. Decisions are made by me for sporting reasons. This is football, not tennis, and you need to respect everyone.”

Kylian Mbappe reveals his idol

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Paris Saint-Germain celebrity Kylian Mbappé has spoken of his admiration for idol Cristiano Ronaldo and considers Juventus are playing soccer under their manager Maurizio Sarri. “I grew up with the fantasy of Zidane, I loved the Amazing Brazilian players: from Pelé to Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kakà. “It is late for me to have a career like Messi, otherwise I should have stayed in Monaco. So, logically and without needing to take away anything from Messi, I have to be motivated by Ronaldo’s career”, he said. The 21-year-old considers Juventus have a fantastic opportunity to win this year’s Champions League and considers the effect of Sarri could assist the Turin-based side to reach that goal. “Juventus are a strong team and this is demonstrated from the Champions League finals they’ve played in recent seasons. The Bianconeri have always lacked something which makes the difference, but they actually have something with Ronaldo, a participant who makes you win the important things. “So this season Juventus remains one of the favorites, that are the typical ones: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and others of all time. Additionally, with Sarri, Juve play a fantastic game, thanks to a group of powerful players regardless.” He also talked of teammate Marco Veratti who he highly respects. “Icardi is one of the best strikers in the world, but he came with lots of humility, he put himself in the service of the group. He has already scored a lot, proving to be a significant element for PSG. I hope he continues at this rate because we are ambitious. I also score a lot but that does not mean I wish to overshadow other team-mates. “On the contrary, with Icardi there is a good deal of understanding, we have complementary styles of play, as demonstrated by the aids we exchange. The main thing is to continue like this in the second half of this season.” I think it’s clear to everybody. He is the player who has impressed me the most because I have been at PSG. He is incredibly strong and I am incredibly lucky to have him on the team. I’m proud to have the ability to play with him.” “Neymar is an excellent player that I get together with the pitch off. It has been a tough two seasons for him, but he is returning to his best degrees. It’s very good news for PSG and for people who love football. “Few teams can manage to line up strikers of our degree, but attacking does not do everything. However, we need team spirit and we must be the first forward to place ourselves in the service of the collective match, to expect to win something significant.” Mbappé, with a contract to stay at PSG until 2022, has been linked with a move to Liverpool or Real Madrid. As he’s hinted that his career should emulate that of Ronaldo who has moved through Europe with top clubs in England, Spain and Italy instead of 1 club man Messi, anticipate a move soon. He’s expected to stay in Paris at least until the summer, without a movement imminent. Whatever happens, the World Cup winner is a player with his feet firmly on the floor and will almost certainly achieve even greater success in the not too distant future.

Is Arsenal making the same mistake in signing the PSG left-back?

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The last time Arsenal picked up a Paris Saint-Germain cast-off it was devastating. Layvin Kurzawa will expect to have greater success in North London compared to his former boss Unai Emery. The French left-back is expected to join the Gunners to offer cover following Kieran Tierney, himself signed in the summer, was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury. Kurzawa is out of contract in the Parc des Princes this summer and despite being a semi-regular, the 27-year-old will leave the French capital searching for a new challenge having found himself firmly supporting Juan Bernat in the pecking order. This makes January PSG’s final opportunity to recoup some of the 23million they forked out to signal Kurzawa from Monaco in the summer of 2015. Arsenal are not expected to pay much for the 12-cup French global, something they have made a staple of the recruitment this month. The fact les Parisiens were ready to pay so much for Kurzawa five years ago speaks for the esteem that he was held in. Among the most exciting young full-backs in Europe while in Monaco, Kurzawa flew up and down the left-hand for Claudio Ranieri’s side since they ended runners-up to PSG in 2013. This wasn’t the Monaco of Kylian Mbappé, Bernardo Silva and Fabinho — although the latter came on loan from Rio Ave before this season. Netting five occasions from left-back, Kurzawa shone again the next season before getting his big move to the funds in the summer of 2015. Which is why he’ll walk away from one of the most glamorous clubs in Europe this summer. Like so many contemporary full-backs, Kurzawa creates a wonderful highlight reel. He is fast, mobile and has forward with no need for another invitation. He comes out 12th for overall touches with 85.08 which only serves to highlight how involved he’s for PSG. Clearly he is comfortable going forward and Kurzawa completes 1.07 of the 2.3 dribbles he tries per 90. An accomplished crosser also, Kurzawa has a range of deliveries in his locker, either going to the line or crossing from a shallow position. The different drawback of Kurzawa is the defensive side of his game. That is why we liken him to numerous other contemporary full-backs who put greater emphasis on getting ahead than performing the fundamentals of their job. He’s got the recovery rate to get himself out of trouble but his willingness to bomb creates problems. As does his lack of defensive awareness occasionally. However, it isn’t good, he loses the second-most defensive duels of any full-back in the league with 7.83 per 90. In addition to that, the amount of times he is dispossessed (1.84 per 90) is the next most for players in his place. These certainly are not the traits of a guardian Arsenal, using their shambolic defence, should be studying. Much like Sead Kolašinac, it is tough to understand what Kurzawa’s best role is. What is clear is that at the elite level, it is not a full-back.

‘Deserves more’ – PSG striker’s situation should have been handled better

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The Parisians have Ambitions of reaching the Best but they have Neglected to treat one of the heroes with the respect his Support has merited. When Edinson Cavani departs Paris Saint-Germain this month, he’ll do so with no entire worth ever having been reflected by his standing at the club. The darling of the Parc des Princes — where he’s loved by the fans for his business, dedication and goal scoring — he’s received such love from the dugout, despite a prolific spell in France’s capital. Initially, he had been shunted out to the wing as Zlatan Ibrahimovic played through the middle and, after a trio of uncomplaining years, he finally had the chance to make the place his own. His record in Napoli suggested goals are the net result and thus it proved, as he struck at about the rate of one per game when playing in his favoured role. This was the confidence that PSG temporarily showed from the forwards, they could require the unfashionable Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting as their backup alternative for an entire year before they swooped for Inter outcast Mauro Icardi in the summertime, with the loanee hitting the floor so successfully that Cavani was all but frozen out. Such an unceremonious departure is unbefitting of a man who captained PSG, sacrificed three decades of his career by playing out of position for them and that renders as their record scorer, having found the net on 198 occasions. “It is hard not to play when you are the idol of the fans and if you are on the pitch, you score,” Pedro Pauleta — who found himself in a similar position to Cavani throughout the 2007-08 season — informed Ligue 1’s official site. “I expect that everything pans out well for the club and for himbecause he deserves to complete his period with PSG well.” But while the Parisians seem to have granted Cavani’s desire to leave, it isn’t a fantastic style for PSG to have this icon pushing to depart. “We don’t need to eliminate a player, but it might happen, that is the fact,” Tuchel clarified on the eve of Wednesday’s Coupe de la Ligue semi-final against Reims — a game that Cavani will miss formally because of groin injury. “It isn’t a simple situation for him. I am quite happy he stays positive and professional. If a person is injured, we’ve got an outstanding replacement.” And there’s the crux of Cavani’s problem: he will only be considered to play with if Icardi is inaccessible. In Tuchel’s head, the Uruguayan has been relegated to the role of luxury substitute. Little wonder, then, he has been fed up with being treated as a second-class citizen with a side he spent the peak years of his career serving in a first-class method. Having to ask a transfer only six months at the end of the time in Paris is the last insult. A move to Spain, where Atletico Madrid have made a bid of $10m for the wantaway ahead, would seem the most plausible outcome for Cavani. PSG are demanding more cash but Cavani’s desire to proceed into the Wanda Metropolitano is clear. First-team football would certainly await at goal-shy Atleti, while Diego Simeone is a huge fan of the participant’s relentless running. Equally, however, Chelsea director Frank Lampard has spoken highly of the former Palermo hitman: “I played against him and I enjoyed his mentality, his attitude and of course his target stats speak for themselves.” The Blues have held discussions with PSG, however, have, so far, stopped short of creating a formal bid for Cavani. Given he’s never played in the Premier League and is very likely to find England more difficult to accommodate than Spain because of the language barrier, it’s doubtful. It’s an unhappy position for the participant to find himself, but it reflects badly, also, on PSG, that is set to usher among their best servants of the contemporary era from the club via the rear door. For a club desperate to acquire a reputation among the best in Europe, this is no way to behave towards a participant who was nothing but a worthy ambassador through the years. All parties appear set to lose from the present situation, though most of PSG, whose very status as a European superpower appears set to be tested in the months ahead. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have been linked with moves to Spain, while the Choupo-Moting is out of contract and Icardi isn’t sure to remain once his loan deal expires in the summer. Sporting manager Leonardo is known for his nous in the transport market, but losing Cavani in these unpleasant situation threatens to be the beginning of a wholesale dismantling of the offensive armada assembled at Parc des Princes. Some may argue, however, that’s just what a club that treats its heroes in such a disrespectful manner deserves.

Icardi wants permanent Paris stay

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Things are going well at Paris Saint-Germain for Mauro Icardi that he’s already thinking about staying next year. Some comparison from this past year, when he had been embroiled in a dispute with Inter Milan that he sued the club. The team loaned Icardi this season, but few observers would have expected him to succeed to the extent he has with 17 goals in 19 games so far. Only he has not scored more than France striker Kylian Mbappe.PSG has the option to make the loan deal permanent and Icardi, playing with his role in an attack which has scored 29 goals in the past six matches, appears to welcome a move.”It is a great time for me personally and for your team. I feel quite good in Paris,” said the 26-year-old Argentine, who scored his first PSG hat trick at Wednesday’s 6-1 League Cup triumph over Saint-Etienne.” There are left before the end of the championship. We can sit around a table and discuss it when everything’s over. If I can stay here I would be quite pleased.” Icardi’s finishing is so clinical that he’s scored with 71 percent of his shots so far, and although all his goals happen to be from within the penalty area. His exceptional movement off the ball and also outstanding first signature make him a simple player to pass to and feed off for PSG’s other forwards: Neymar, Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.PSG trainer Thomas Tuchel seemed to risk making his unwanted elsewhere by picking at his four forward together in recent matches. But it is working seamlessly, albeit from teams. Di Maria picked Neymar having a pass out. A solid comprehension has been developed by icardi with Mbappe, who is also building an excellent one with Neymar. The choices seem multiple, although it remains to be seen how PSG’s sparkling attack will fare against sides at the Champions League.”I’m convinced the four forwards enjoy playing together. There’s a clear understanding between Mauro and Kylian,” Tuchel said.” They are discovering each other at the right positions.” Icardi took just two minutes to the corner to score using an angled finish from the right of the region. He also set up a target for Mbappe – who had created two of his – with a minute of Mbappe-like agility. Taking a high ball down with a deft touch on his right foot, then Icardi instantly squared it across the goal with his left, without losing momentum or breaking stride. In the area, five times touched the ball in that game, and four goals were scored. He is a goal magnet, and even though the hat trick of Icardi was his first in two decades – because a quadruple against Sampdoria in March 2018 – that the gap had to do with what happened at Inter. Things became so morose between Icardi and Inter that at the end of August he sued the club for discrimination, claiming 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million) in damages and requesting to be permitted into the first-team fold. Icardi said that he had been dropped from team advertising campaigns and photoshoots, was made to train away from other players, and removed providing training schedules. Months of anxiety between Icardi and Inter, who netted 124 goals overall in five seasons, watched him stripped of the captaincy and began last January. It demonstrated a lack of trust between the fan favourite and the three-time European Cup winner. He explained he had and several months of exile ensued until he returned for the league’s final months. Icardi’s gained as many goals as he did in 37 games last season and is poised to reach the 20-goal mark on Wednesday and Sunday with matches against Monaco. The fact that Monaco has among the league’s worst defenses would be welcome news for Icardi.

Two Milan stars could be on their way to Paris

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Where there’s smoke, there is fire. Paris Saint-Germain continues to be connected with AC Milan’s Lucas Paquetá for weeks and even though a bargain not being announced yet, the sheer number of accounts leads you to believe the fascination with PSG sporting director Leonardo is factual. Merely to catch you in the event you’re unfamiliar with the situation. Leonardo was the sporting director at AC Milan prior to linking PSG last summer and while he had been in Italy, he signed Paquetá for $35 million from Flamengo based on Diario AS. Live up to his price tag and the 22-year-old has yet to impress and Leonardo believes things will be different in Paris. But, Leonardo is not prepared to pay Milan anywhere near the amount he paid to deliver Paquetá there 12 months ago. The bargain seemed to be in a standstill with Milan wanting to recoup as much of the $35 million as possible but over the weekend, Sky Italia reporter Luca Marchetti, per MilanNews.it, indicated that Leonardo is still very much interested in his compatriot and will probably create a January move for him. That is not all, however. In addition to Paquetá, Leonardo wants to bring Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli into the French capital and is willing to splash the cash to the tune of $80 million according to a report by Corriere dello Sport, through CalcioMercato.com.Milan sits at 12th place in Serie A and also their players could be looking to jump ship. That sum of money would surely assist the club fiscally as UEFA Champions League soccer is unlikely now. A deal of this magnitude would be hard to pull off in January but Leonardo’s familiarity with a deal could be aided in by Milan. Definitely keep your eye out for this.