Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe is doubtful for the semi-finals of the Champions League in Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester City on Tuesday, according to coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Mbappe missed PSG’s 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Lens at the weekend with a calf problem but was added to the squad that traveled to Manchester.
“I think we have to evaluate Kylian. Today he will start training individually and then we will see if he can be in the team at the end, ”Pochettino told reporters at a press conference on Monday shortly before his team’s last training session before the game.
“There is still one day and we have not yet decided whether or not it may be available,” added Pochettino.
Losing Mbappe would be a major blow to the Parisians as they try to cut a 2-1 deficit from their first leg against Pep Guardiola’s side.
The French striker played for his club in this year’s Champions League and scored a hat trick in the 4-1 away win in Barcelona in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.
He first caught the attention of fans outside of France when he scored at the Etihad Stadium for Monaco in the Champions League against Manchester City at the age of just 18 against Manchester City at the age of just 18. That was his first goal in the competition.
PSG will definitely do without midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye on Tuesday. He is suspended after being sent off late in the first leg.
The French club are aiming to reach the final for the second straight season after narrowly losing to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last year. Pochettino said it was not a problem to motivate his team to take on the challenge.
“In these games, the Champions League semi-finals, I think, ‘Houston, we have a problem’ when we have to motivate our players,” he said.
“If that were the case, we’d have to talk. Gamers love to play these games. Nobody wants to miss it. “
Pochettino is hoping to repeat what he achieved two years ago with Tottenham, who lost 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals at home to Ajax but won 3-2 in the second leg to reach the final.
That was after City was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
“We have to be ready to suffer during some phases of the game, but when we have our chances we have to be clinical and aggressive.
“We need two goals if we want to have the opportunity to reach the final – that is the goal and we will try.”
