Paris (AFP)

The marathon before the big meeting in Dortmund ends without the stars: in Amiens, Saturday (5:30 p.m.) in Ligue 1, PSG still decided to preserve Neymar and several executives to avoid further injuries before the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday.

"We will not take risks against Amiens, it is clear. We will have a strong team, but if we have little doubts, we will not take it": just after the victory against Dijon (6-1) , picked up Wednesday in the French Cup, Thomas Tuchel had already announced his intentions. Take no risk with your executives before C1.

From words to deeds, the PSG formalized Friday the absences of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the stars of the team, but also other executives like Thomas Meunier or Pablo Sarabia, in the group of 19 players who will move in Picardy.

And for good reason, in the space of a six-week marathon punctuated by a match every three days, the Parisian coach saw his best players get injured one after the other: Thiago Silva, Juan Bernat, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe and especially Neymar, the cursed!

. Neymar, rest before Dortmund?

Far from the bad memories of the last two seasons and his two fractures in the right foot, the Brazilian N. 10 has missed the last three games of PSG due to a rib injury which occurred ten days ago.

Left at rest in Amiens, will "Ney" be restored for the 8th final first leg of C1? "I cannot say 100% that he will be able to play against Dortmund," admitted Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday ... before being more optimistic two days later.

"Whether he plays or not" on Saturday in the league, "he will arrive in Dortmund, I'm sure, but not in as good shape as he could have been two weeks ago. will help us, I am convinced, "he assured Friday at a press conference.

The Brazilian (28), who went Thursday afternoon to Düsseldorf (Germany) for the launch of a collection of clothes in his name, just after training normally, has multiplied the signals in this direction on his social networks.

From a psychological point of view, the whole Parisian club and its supporters, deeply marked by the three consecutive eliminations at the stage of the knockout stages of C1, are waiting for that.

Especially since last season, Neymar, transferred to PSG against a record sum of 222 million euros in the summer of 2017, could not play the knockout stages of C1 due to a relapse at the foot law.

. Marquinhos and ghosts looking for rhythm

What about the Marquinhos case, affected by the hamstrings since the end of January? Good news for the Parisian club, the vice-captain should make his return to the fields in Picardy "if all things go well", announced Thomas Tuchel.

"He is a key player because he is a guy who helps a lot, whether he plays central defender or in the middle. Personally, I really like when he plays in the middle because he can show his ability to recover balloons very high, "he said.

"He can also help attacking players to do so because he closes spaces very quickly. He also knows how to protect defenders by winning aerial duels," said the German technician, impatient to get him back into his starting lineup.

Like Marco Verratti and Idrissa Gueye, again "available" in Amiens after having also been spared the trip to Dijon. Presnel Kimpembe, on the other hand, forfeited Amiens and uncertain for Dortmund, like Abdou Diallo and Colin Dagba, also injured.

For other managers in Dijon such as Angel Di Maria or Mauro Icardi, or returning from an injury like Thiago Silva and Juan Bernat, is the match in Picardy an ideal preparation for getting back on track?

"Yes of course, Angel for example absolutely wants to play. We must be clear, we will take a risk. But a calculated risk," warned the Parisian coach.

However, be careful not to relive the misadventure of Edinson Cavani, injured just before the European confrontation against Manchester United last year. The announcement of a nightmare scenario that Paris wishes at all costs to avoid this season.

© 2020 AFP