Despite PSG's dominant victory over Chelsea, Luis Enrique offers updates on Joao Neves's cautious withdrawal and Bradley Barcola's ankle injury.
PSG cruised at Chelsea on Tuesday (3-0) and easily secured their qualification for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. But Luis Enrique had to take out João Neves at halftime for a physical issue, while Bradley Barcola was injured in his right ankle.
Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge would have been perfect for PSG if not for the exits of João Neves and Bradley Barcola. A starter, the Portuguese midfielder again had a big game, as in the first leg, but gave way at halftime to Senny Mayulu. According to L'Equipe, he felt discomfort around the half-hour mark, he who returned last week from a two-week absence after an issue with his left ankle.
Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola Injury Updates Emerge After Chelsea vs. PSG Game
Asked about his player's health condition in the post-match news conference, Luis Enrique was rather reassuring: "João Neves has no problem, but you have to know how to manage the different moments that will come in the next matches. And with this result, we thought it was better not to take risks with his situation."
A statement that clearly suggests that if the two-legged tie were not virtually sealed (7-2 at halftime for PSG on Tuesday evening at the break of the return leg), Neves could have remained on the field. But Bradley Barcola also came out injured at the end of the match after his very fine performance. The French winger hurt his right ankle.
"For Bradley, nothing serious," Luis Enrique said in the news conference. "But I'm not a doctor, I can't say anything. We have to wait for tests." According to leaks from L'Equipe and Le Parisien, Barcola left Stamford Bridge with a walking boot on his right ankle and will undergo an MRI this Wednesday in Paris.
This, therefore, seems a little more serious for Barcola than for Neves, even if it remains to be confirmed. PSG will play at Nice on Saturday before a two-week international break. Will Barcola and Neves stay warm in Paris during this break? One hopes so, knowing that PSG will play their Champions League quarterfinal first leg, against Galatasaray or Liverpool, in three weeks.
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