Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are set to start for Paris Saint-Germain against Liverpool in their crunch Champions League tie today after recovering from injuries, coach Thomas Tuchel said.
“They are fit and in form. They are fine. They did a full training session today and yesterday. There is no problem, they will start tomorrow,” Tuchel said at a press conference at the Parc des Princes yesterday.
“If they were not fit they could not play but they did not complain at all yesterday and today, and for me right now there is no risk.”
The two most expensive players in the world came off injured playing for their countries in international friendly matches last week, with Mbappe hurting a shoulder with France and Neymar a groin with Brazil.
Both players have scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, and the injuries caused alarm bells to ring at PSG as they watched Saturday’s tight Ligue 1 win against Toulouse from the stands.
PSG come into today’s game in third place in Champions League Group C, a point behind both Liverpool and Napoli with two games left.
That means a defeat against last season’s runners-up, coupled with a win for Napoli at home to Red Star Belgrade, and the French champions would be eliminated already from a competition they are desperate to win.
“It is super important that we do no lose focus and think about what could happen,” said Tuchel, who has won all 14 Ligue 1 games in charge since being appointed at the Qatar-owned club in the close season.
“We have to play this game relaxed, but at the same time 100 % focused on what we have to do.
“We cannot control the result, nobody can in football, and for that, no matter what the result is, the sun will shine the next day again and we will have to get up out of bed and go to work, whether in a better mood or a not so good mood.
“It is sport, and we are looking forward to this challenge.”
Tuchel has won every domestic game since his appointment as coach in the summer, but PSG’s results in Europe have been underwhelming, with a 3-2 defeat at Liverpool in September being followed by two draws against Napoli.
Indeed, a 6-1 win over Red Star last month is the French side’s only victory in their last seven Champions League matches — not exactly the form of potential winners.
“We have to play very well to beat Liverpool. An average performance won’t be enough against a team like that. We are talking top level and we need to be perfectly prepared. It’s a decisive match,” club captain Thiago Silva told PSG’s official website.
But would they really be so well-prepared if the two most expensive players in the world were both absent against Jurgen Klopp’s team?
 Mbappe and Neymar both suffered injuries playing in international friendly matches last week, and watched Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Toulouse from the stands.
Both of those players have scored 13 goals this season, while Edinson Cavani has 10 in all competitions. Their influence on the team is huge.
“They’re getting better every day, we have time before now and Wednesday. It’s good for us. I think they’ll be able to play,” was Tuchel’s optimistic assessment at the weekend.
Vteran Brazilian Dani Alves made his comeback at the weekend after six months out with a knee injury, and his influence could be precious as Paris seek to extend their impressive home record in Europe.