Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted Edinson Cavani is likely to miss his side’s Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The Uruguayan had to be taken off just before half-time during PSG’s 1-0 win over Bordeaux on Saturday with a suspected hip problem.
Will Cavani be fit in time to face Man Utd? Five key things to know…
- PSG face Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
- The French champions are already without Neymar and Thomas Meunier for the clash due to injuries.
- PSG’s injury woes were added to on Saturday as Cavani limped off in the first half of their 1-0 win over Bordeaux.
- Tuchel has admitted he is unlikely to be fit to face the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
- Cavani has scored 21 goals in 25 games for PSG this season, with only Kylian Mbappe (22) scoring more.
Immediately fears turned to whether the striker would be fit to face Manchester United, with PSG already set to be without Neymar and Thomas Meunier for the trip to Old Trafford.
And Tuchel has admitted the chances of Cavani lining up against the Red Devils on Tuesday are very slim.
“There’s no good news for Edi this morning. He had some tests and there will be more to come,” he told Telefoot.
“My feeling is that it’s going to be very difficult for him to play. We have to wait a little bit more, but the club will communicate on this later today. I think the news will not be very good.
“[There is a] very small hope, but the first tests were not good.”
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When the draw was first made, many expected PSG to be firm favourites for the tie with Man Utd struggling under Jose Mourinho.
But the Portuguese’s departure and subsequent appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought a turn in form, with United winning 10 of their past 11 games.
Verratti could give PSG boost with return
While the win over Bordeaux was overshadowed slightly by Cavani’s injury, PSG were handed a boost with a return to action for Marco Verratti.
The Italian had been out since January, having suffered an ankle injury, and was a serious doubt for the last-16 first leg against United.
But Verratti played 60 minutes on Saturday and spoke of his determination to stay fit for a crunch period of the campaign.
“I feel good,” he told PSG’s official website.
“I’m really happy, it’s been three weeks since I last played. I worked hard to get back as soon as possible.”
However, Tuchel was more cautious about Verratti’s chances of playing twice in three days, adding: “Obviously, we are very happy Marco is back with us.
“He brings quality, as we could see today. After he left the pitch, it was more difficult for us to control the game.
“Normally, it’s very difficult to play so soon when you have been injured as Marco has. It was his first game since his injury.
“He played 60 minutes, I don’t know if it’s possible for him to play again at Old Trafford against Manchester United only three days later.”
The post “No good news”: PSG sweating on Cavani fitness ahead of Man Utd clash appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka News http://bit.ly/2RO4Hfj
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