Paris (AFP)

Paris SG plays against Nice on Saturday (5:00 p.m.) in Ligue 1 its last match before going to challenge Barcelona in the Champions League.

For coach Mauricio Pochettino, it's time to rethink his strategy, turned upside down by the absences of Neymar and Angel di Maria.

- Still injuries ... -

In four days, between the injury of Di Maria (thigh) and that of Neymar (adductor), the thermometer of PSG fell well below the degree of optimism displayed in December.

Confident at the time of the draw, the capital club now knows that it will go to Camp Nou on Tuesday for the round of 16 first leg, without two of its best creators.

Their unavailability brings the club back two or three years, as in 2018 or 2019, two editions marked by the package on injury from "Ney" ... and a pitiful elimination, at the gates of the quarters.

The supporters fear the repetition of this bad film.

"The crystal trap", headlines Friday the sports daily L'Equipe, recalling the fragility of the Brazilian.

Is Paris cursed?

It is to forget that Barça, too, recently lost two players, defender Sergino Dest and midfielder Miralem Pjanic.

But the six-time Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi, he should be present Tuesday at the Camp Nou.

- A plan to review -

"Football is a collective game. You need a team, a collective, more than one player or the other."

As of Thursday evening, Marquinhos broadcast his reassuring captain speech, at the microphone of France Bleu.

"(Neymar and Di Maria) are two important players, we recognize the qualities they have, the power they have to decide a match. (...) We will have to get by without them, we have need this victory and have a good game. And that's what we're going to do! ", he said.

But how?

If Pochettino has tried several systems since his arrival in early January, Di Maria and Neymar have always been there.

The Brazilian and Argentinian have accumulated 18 goals and as many assists this season.

In the Champions League, they are involved in more than half of Parisian goals.

"We can not go back. We have to find solutions, but we have a team that has quality. I have absolute confidence in a squad of almost 30 players", explained "Poche" on Friday without saying anything. more on his tactical intentions.

However, the technician will have to present to Barcelona a plan that he will have worked very little, if not 90 minutes against Nice, 13th in L1.

One solution would see Marco Verratti, more devoted to defensive tasks, evolve into a role of creator, in support of the attackers.

Scorer Mauro Icardi would start in the axis, between Pablo Sarabia and Kylian Mbappé, shifted to the left.

- A dynamic to maintain -

During his presentation to the press at the beginning of January, Pochettino insisted on the need "to build", to "achieve our best form against Barcelona".

Without Di Maria or Neymar, it is certain that he will not be able to field his typical team.

But the coach managed to initiate a good dynamic of results: with seven victories in nine matches since his induction (one defeat, one draw), PSG keeps high standards.

A success against the Aiglons would strengthen his confidence, and would prolong a good home habit, since the Parisians have not lost before an 8th in the Champions League, since March 2013, in Reims (1-0).

Paris must also win so as not to let the leader Lille escape, two points ahead of him, or his runner-up Lyon, one unit, in the ultra tight race for the title.

"It's a very important match, Nice is our priority. Barcelona will become the priority from Saturday 19:00. Our responsibility is to win every match, in every competition," assured the technician.

"Without Neymar, Paris remains very successful in Ligue 1 given the quality of its workforce," Lille coach Christophe Galtier conceded Friday.

It remains to be proven, once again.

© 2021 AFP