PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is considering how many players to rest for Saturday’s home game against Ligue 1 mid-table Lorient.
PSG are yet to win the French title but have a tough match ahead of them on Wednesday, a return to a heated Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. 5-4 victory over title holders PSG In a special first leg on Tuesday.
“Every game is different, each has its own challenges. We have to take everything into account,” coach Luis Enrique said on Friday. “We have to talk to the players individually. It’s not easy. It’s like playing Tetris. We have to get the three points and somehow get the players back into the most important game of the season.”
PSG are six points behind second-placed Reims with four games left, but must face their closest opponent on May 13th.
The high-scoring showdown with Bayern left players on both teams exhausted, with PSG’s right-back Achraf Hakimi out for several weeks with a thigh injury.
Coach Luis Enrique said: “Bayern are the toughest opponent we have played against PSG. It was the most physically demanding game we have played this season, and it was also mentally exhausting.” “(Hakimi) is a machine who always plays at an incredible level. It’s like having three players. Unfortunately he won’t be in Munich, but we’re calm.”
Warren Zaire-Emery is likely to move from midfield to replace Hakimi at right-back, and Luis Enrique cannot afford to be injured either.
This is especially true for goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, given that backup Lucas Chevalier is also out injured.
Luis Enrique needs Safonov against Bayern and could hand over his first league start to 19-year-old goalkeeper Renato Marin, who was highly rated after joining from Roma last summer.
Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz has just returned from a knee injury suffered against Sporting Lisbon in January and could start against Lorient.
“Fabian is a great player for us, one of the best midfielders in the world,” Luis Enrique said. “Tomorrow is a good time to get some more playing time.”
If PSG defeats ninth-placed Lorient and Lens loses against Nice later on Saturday, the title will be all but confirmed. ___
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