The new man in charge of the Ligue 1 champions has a star turn available for the Trophee des Champions, but is wary of rushing him back into action
Neymar, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos are unlikely to be risked against Monaco in Saturday’s Trophee des Champions clash, according to Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel.
The Brazil trio all joined up with PSG this week after an extended break following their World Cup exploits.
Neymar has not played for PSG since breaking his foot at the end of February, an injury which brought an early conclusion to his season and initially put his World Cup participation in doubt.
For a few months after his injury, it was widely reported Neymar’s PSG career was over, before he moved to silence rumours linking him with Real Madrid.
He is together again with his team-mates in Shenzhen ahead of Saturday’s traditional season curtain-raiser, although Tuchel is wary of rushing him back.
“I am already very happy that they are here, with the group,” Tuchel told a news conference in China on Friday.
“It’s very important. Thiago arrived first. I will not take any chances with them; it is my duty to take care of them. I must be very careful with them.
“I have an idea of what [team] I want to face Monaco, but I will not tell you. I will talk with the players.
“I have to take into account the training this afternoon [Friday], but also their journey, jet lag and also the quality of their sleep. They are able to play, but I do not know how long for.”
Club captain Silva acknowledged that PSG are not 100 per cent ready physically to face Monaco.
“The Trophee des Champios is special for starting the season,” he added. “We are used to winning it and we will try to do it again.
“We will have to give everything because it will be very difficult. We are not 100 per cent physically, but mentally we are strong.
“Monaco is a problem for us and it will be worse [on Saturday] because we are not 100 per cent ready.”
Neymar’s arrival, ahead of Saturday’s French Super Cup game against Monaco in Shenzhen, comes more than five months after his last appearance for PSG following a foot injury in late February.
The flamboyant forward then endured a turbulent World Cup as Brazil were stunned by Belgium in the quarter-finals and he was widely lampooned for his play-acting.
“I didn’t want to see a ball, or to see any more football played,” the 26-year-old told AFP last month in an interview, describing his World Cup disappointment.
However, Thursday’s enthusiastic welcome indicated that his popularity in China remains very much intact.
Neymar’s £198 million ($263 million) move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain 12 months ago was seen by the player as an opportunity to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow and become the best in the world.
On a wider scale, it blew the transfer market wide open, giving further financial strength to the clubs selling in-demand talent.
Before the Neymar deal, Paul Pogba had set the bar as football’s most expensive transfer. In August 2016, he joined Manchester United from Juventus in an £89 million ($115.6 million) move. That fee barely seems significant two years on, as the impact of the Brazil international’s extraordinary deal is felt far and wide.