Image Credits: Imago Images
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has delivered a worrying injury update on Fabian Ruiz ahead of their Champions League first leg quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
The tie carries added significance after PSG knocked Liverpool out in last season’s round of 16 on penalties before going on to win their first-ever Champions League title.
While the French side are targeting back-to-back European triumphs, Liverpool’s fortunes have dipped, with this competition now their only realistic chance of silverware.
PSG are expected to be without Bradley Barcola for at least the first leg after the winger sprained his right ankle against Chelsea. Enrique has further cast doubt over Fabian Ruiz’s availability, effectively ruling him out of Wednesday’s encounter.
Ruiz has been sidelined since mid-January with a knee injury. Enrique said: “We have to wait for the player; there’s no problem. We’re trying to get the players back as soon as possible. We’re still focused on giving the player confidence.”
He added: “Fabian hasn’t trained with the group yet. He’s made a lot of progress, and we’re happy because he seems to be on the right track, but he still needs to do a little more.”
Vitinha also commented on Ruiz’s absence, noting that Warren Zaire-Emery has been moved from right-back into midfield to cover for the Spain international.
“They are two different players who do different things,” Vitinha said. “We adapt to that, but we have already shown that when someone is not there, the team takes responsibility, wins the match and responds. We have to adjust to different ways of playing.”
Those comments follow a medical update shared by the club on Tuesday. It stated that Bradley Barcola “has rejoined group training and is continuing his recovery work.”
Regarding Ruiz, the update confirmed he “continues his individual work,” while Quentin Ndjantou “continues to undergo treatment.
The 18-year-old forward has not played since being substituted at half-time during PSG’s French Cup fifth-round tie against Fontenay in mid-December. Ndjantou made 16 appearances in the first half of the season, mostly as a substitute, before suffering a hamstring injury.
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