Moise Kean confident Neymar will recover from injury to face Barcelona
By Tom Gott
PSG forward Moise Kean is optimistic that teammate Neymar has avoided any real injury and will be fit in time to face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.
Neymar was forced off with what is understood to be an adductor injury in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Caen, just six days before PSG are set to welcome his former employers Barcelona to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of the tie.
It's left PSG fans sweating, but Kean has done his utmost to alleviate concerns by claiming that Neymar is in fact 'fine' and will be back in training immediately.
"Everything is fine, he is ready," Kean said (via Eurosport). "Tomorrow (Thursday) he will train, recover and he will be ready for the match."
Despite Kean's reassuring words, manager Mauricio Pochettino was not as certain when it comes to Neymar's fitness, but he insisted he had 'no regrets' about playing the Brazilian so close to such an important fixture.
"It's difficult to know now," the boss admitted. "We will see tomorrow. We will see what the doctor has to say. For the moment, it is difficult to pronounce. I need more information to really express myself, but yes, it's his adductor.
"These are the current conditions in France. It was the same in Angers, Marseille or Lorient. It is inevitable. Neymar had gastric problems before Marseille, he had to be protected. Today, he is in perfect condition to play, these are things that happen in football."
"I don't want to talk about the opponent's way of playing, but during the match, it felt as though Neymar wasn't given much protection, but that's not only in this match."
Neymar looked visibly frustrated throughout the game as he had to deal with some stiff tackles from the Caen defenders who had clearly been given the old Sunday League advice of let him know you're there.
It was Kean's goal which sealed the victory for PSG, but all eyes will be on the recovery for Neymar, who may well sit out the upcoming Ligue 1 tie with Nice to ensure he is 100% ready for the visit of Barcelona.
PSG will be out for revenge, with memories of the infamous Remontada in 2017 still fresh. PSG picked up a 4-0 win over Barcelona at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of the last 16 tie, only to fall to a stunning 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou to crash out of the competition.