WHY LUIS ENRIQUE IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT VITINHA’S RECOVERY BEFORE THE BAYERN MUNICH SEMI-FINAL
PSG face Nantes without Vitinha due to heel inflammation. Discover Luis Enrique's update on Fabian Ruiz and the title race vs Lens.
The Portuguese central midfielder won’t be available for PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Nantes on Wednesday due to heel inflammation.
Luis Enrique mentioned that they’ll take a cautious approach to monitor how the injured players might recover. When asked if Vitinha would be back for next Tuesday’s semi-final first leg at Parc des Princes, he admitted uncertainty.
He also spoke with PSGTV about managing Vitinha’s minor injury while noting that some players are feeling a bit tired or dealing with minor issues.
If Vitinha is sidelined, Fabian Ruiz could step in to fill that vital role in PSG’s midfield. Along with Vitinha and Joao Neves, Ruiz was part of the core trio that played a big role in PSG’s success last season, as the club secured their first Champions League title and claimed the Ligue 1 crown.
Ruiz made a brief return in the final 18 minutes of PSG’s recent 2-1 home loss to Lyon, still working his way back from a knee injury.
Luis Enrique tempered expectations for the 30-year-old, noting that Ruiz will need “time to regain fitness” after three months off. The coach emphasised that Ruiz requires additional matches and minutes to fully bounce back, but expressed satisfaction with his recent appearance against Lyon.
Despite PSG nearing a potential repeat of their trophy-winning season, Enrique warned that he continues to demand more from all his players.
Eighteen-year-old Senegalese talent Ibrahim Mbaye wasn’t included in the squad for Sunday’s loss against Lyon. Enrique commented that every minute on the pitch for PSG should feel special.
While he doesn’t regret the decision regarding Mbaye, Enrique stressed the importance of readiness and that he expects much more from every player.
A win against Nantes in Paris on Wednesday would move PSG three points ahead of unexpected Ligue 1 challengers Lens, with just five matches left in the season.
ACHRAF HAKIMI SLAMS LYON’S ENDRICK FOR "DISRESPECTFUL" DANCE CELEBRATION IN PSG DEFEAT
PSG lose 2-1 to Lyon! Achraf Hakimi confronts Endrick over a celebration. See the latest Ligue 1 title race updates.
PSG’s clash with Lyon was intense from start to finish, and the drama didn’t stop at the final whistle. Achraf Hakimi wasn’t exactly thrilled with Endrick, Lyon’s young Brazilian star, who decided to celebrate his goal by dancing right in front of the PSG fans after putting his team ahead in their 2-1 win.
Endrick really shaped this game, scoring first and then setting up Lyon’s second. That win shakes up the Ligue 1 standings, with Lens now just a point behind PSG. Sure, Lens has played a game more, but the pressure is piling onto Luis Enrique and his team. They can’t afford to slip now, not with the title race heating up this way.
But Hakimi’s real frustration wasn’t about losing or even the goal itself. It was Endrick’s lengthy celebration – a good fifteen seconds of dancing in front of the home crowd. Hakimi went over and let the teenager know he wasn’t having it. After the match, Hakimi explained himself: “Why did I tell Endrick to calm down? These things happen in a match. I just wanted us to keep our focus, and I wanted him to stop doing things aimed at our fans.”
Hakimi didn’t let it go there. He made it pretty clear he respects Endrick’s talent but thinks the celebrations crossed a line. For him, it’s about respect. Focus on your game; let the football do the talking. “He should just play football, especially since he’s a talented player,” Hakimi said. “But when he does things that aren’t about football, it annoys me, especially since we were losing.”
There’s not much time for PSG to dwell on this loss. They’re back in action against Nantes on Wednesday. The Lyon game took its toll, and Luis Enrique may have to rotate his squad to keep everyone fresh. Even Hakimi, who rarely misses a match, could get a rest as PSG try to steady themselves after a tough weekend. With the lead at the top suddenly under threat, PSG needs to win and fast to settle the nerves at Parc des Princes.
VITINHA WARNS PSG TEAMMATES: "UNDERESTIMATE LIVERPOOL AT YOUR OWN PERIL" TONIGHT
PSG vs Liverpool preview: Vitinha recalls the 2025 final as PSG looks to repeat their Munich dominance at home.
Vitinha isn’t buying into the hype about PSG being the favourites against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals. Sure, he’s at the heart of the team that lifted the trophy in 2025, but he’s staying grounded. He pointed to Liverpool, fresh off a 4-0 thumping by Manchester City in the FA Cup, as a side you just can’t underestimate.
“Everyone knows how unpredictable these matches are. There’s no favourite,” Vitinha said before the first leg at Parc des Princes. “It’s Liverpool. They’ve got top players, and anything can happen. We’ve got two big games ahead, one in Paris, one at Anfield.”
He made it clear: PSG will go all out. “We’ll give one hundred per cent. We always play to win, and that’s not changing now.”
Last season, PSG knocked Liverpool out in the round of 16 on their way to the final in Munich, where they dominated Inter Milan. Vitinha, alongside Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, controlled the midfield. In the final, he set up Hakimi’s opener with a smart pass through the Inter defence. Later in the match, he put together a slick move with Dembélé before assisting Doué for PSG’s third. By full time, PSG had put up a five-goal margin, the biggest ever seen in the final since the competition began.
“The feeling in the squad is amazing,” Vitinha said. “Big Champions League games like these are what we live for. We’re focused, but we know Liverpool is dangerous.”
Liverpool bounced back from that European exit by winning the Premier League, but this season they’re fighting to book another Champions League spot. Their manager, Arne Slot, isn’t getting distracted by how their season’s been going. “I don’t pay much attention to the league table right now. This is a huge challenge,” he's said. “City and PSG are very similar in their quality and style. A Champions League quarter-final is never routine, especially not against the defending champions.”
After facing PSG, Liverpool hosts Fulham in the Premier League. Meanwhile, PSG gets a bit more rest: French league officials rescheduled their game against Lens to give them extra time to prep for the second leg at Anfield in mid-April, a move Lens isn’t thrilled about.
Elsewhere, Wednesday’s other quarter-final first leg sees Barcelona play Atletico Madrid. So, the Champions League drama keeps going.
