France defender Lucas Hernandez is ready to make his comeback in Paris St Germain’s Champions League clash with RB Salzburg.
Hernandez has been included in the squad that has travelled to Austria as he closes in on his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury against Borussia Dortmund in May.
The anterior cruciate ligament damage ruled him out of Euro 2024 but the 2018 World Cup winner has now been given the all-clear to resume playing.
The squad for the trip to Salzburg! 📋🔴🔵#UCL | @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/5Yl0h9rJrX
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 9, 2024
“Lucas has been with us for the last two weeks and has been training at a very high level,” PSG boss Luis Enrique said.
“If he’s in the squad, it means he can play for some minutes. I don’t give out places in the squad as gifts.”
PSG are in make-or-break territory if they are to reach the knockout phase, having won just one of their five matches with three games left to play, starting with Tuesday’s trip to Salzburg.
Their European form has been so poor they are not even in the play-off places and are currently positioned in 25th.
“I feel this is going to be a marvellous game. It has all the ingredients that anyone who coaches PSG would want,” Enrique said.
Liverpool are the first team to confirm their place in the round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs ⚽#UCL pic.twitter.com/ebUtmFxFeW
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 27, 2024
“Since the start of this competition, we have been in top level games and now we are getting close to the end with lots of teams needing points.
“Our aim is to win the match, as always, knowing that there is a risk if we do not.
“I don’t think anybody knows how many points will be needed to qualify. Nobody can be sure because after five games the league is the way it is. We just want to win our three remaining games and that is our target.
“This game is of vital importance and I hope that doesn’t affect the team because when you have these games, that can have an effect.”
Striker Bradley Barcola admits there is no margin for error if PSG are to reach the round of 16.
“We know it is difficult now. We have to win this match and we have to win all of the remaining games. That is what we are working hard towards,” Barcola said.
“There is no extra pressure but we know that it’s now or never. It is about putting on a great performance and not listening to the things being said around us.”
RB Salzburg occupy fifth place in the Austrian Bundesliga after making a mixed start to the season.
