Paris St Germain boss sees a positive in Gianluigi Donnarumma injury setback

Luis Enrique says Gianluigi Donnarumma was “lucky” after the Paris St Germain goalkeeper suffered “facial trauma” at Monaco in midweek.

Italy captain Donnarumma will sit out PSG’s Coupe de France tie at Lens on Sunday to recover after being caught by the boot of Monaco forward Wilfried Singo.

Donnarumma suffered multiple cuts to his face in Wednesday’s 4-2 Ligue 1 win, and PSG provided a medical update about the 25-year-old’s condition on Saturday.

“Gianluigi Donnarumma is recovering from his facial trauma,” the Ligue 1 club said. “He will be working in the gym until the end of the week.”

Asked about Donnarumma at his pre-match press conference, head coach Enrique said: “He is feeling well. He doesn’t have any major pain.

“It is early to see the injury but he has been lucky because his eye was not injured.

“We have all seen the images, videos, I don’t need to comment on that.”

PSG won a record 15th Coupe de France in May by beating Lyon 2-1 – the seventh time they have lifted the trophy since 2015.

But Enrique admits he had hoped for an easier round of 64 assignment than being drawn away to Lens, currently seventh in Ligue 1.

He said: “In general the first game of the Coupe de France it is not usual that such teams, such important teams, meet.

“If you ask the Lens coach it is probably not the match we expected or wanted to play at the moment.

“It is not ideal, but this is how it is. We have to face Lens and last year (in the Coupe de France) we had to play against a lot of major teams in Ligue 1.

“It is a competition that is very important in our country. Of course we want to win but it will be very difficult.”

PSG have been linked with a January move for Victor Osimhen, with some reports in France suggesting contact has already been made with the Nigeria striker.

The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, having scored 10 goals in 14 appearances for the Turkish club.

Enrique said: “I don’t like to talk about players who are not part of the club.”

Lens lost 1-0 at PSG in the league at the start of November and are unbeaten in three games with two wins and a draw.

Head coach Will Still said: “We are aware of the challenge that awaits us and the quality of PSG.

“But if we say that it is unplayable, we might as well not play. That is not what we want.

“The Parisians are very good but we will try to make it difficult for them.”

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