According to L’Equipe, Achraf Hakimi, 27, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back, is expected to resume full training this week. This is good news ahead of the Arsenal match, but also presents a real dilemma for Warren Zaïre-Emery, 20, the Parisian midfielder who has become a key player this season.
“Achraf Hakimi will be able to resume full training this week.”
“Achraf Hakimi will be able to resume full training this week, a little over three weeks after his injury. Barring a relapse, the defender will be in contention for a starting place against the Gunners as they aim for a second consecutive Champions League title. Smiling broadly, very relaxed, and without a limp, the Parisian showed no signs of pain on Sunday at the Stade Jean-Bouin before the match against Paris FC (1-2).”
“This return will inevitably raise the question of Warren Zaïre-Emery’s role in this final.”
This return will inevitably raise the question of Warren Zaïre-Emery’s role in this final. Fabian Ruiz has reclaimed his position in midfield, and Hakimi is expected to do the same in defense. The Frenchman, the player most used by Luis Enrique since the start of the season, could therefore start on the bench. A difficult decision to explain to him at the end of such a successful season, during which he has plugged every gap in the defense.
“Luis Enrique tries to convince his players by telling them that substitutes are just as important as starters.”
In these situations, Luis Enrique tries to convince his players by telling them that substitutes are just as important as starters. “I love this player and this person so much,” Luis Enrique said a few days ago about “WZE” in a press conference. “He’s a true example. What a level!” No matter where he is, he’s important to the team.
Hakimi’s anticipated return initially seems like excellent news for PSG: with a Champions League final looming, having a natural starter back in his position provides an additional weapon, especially in a match where intensity and the flanks will be crucial.
But this good news also presents a difficult choice. With Fabian Ruiz, 30, back in midfield, and Hakimi expected to return to his right flank, Zaïre-Emery could find himself without a clear place in the starting eleven. The paradox is stark: the Frenchman has been useful everywhere, filling in for absences and delivering throughout a major season. Luis Enrique will therefore have to decide between the theoretical balance of his team and the sporting reward for a player who has become essential thanks to his versatility.
In this context, Luis Enrique’s talk about the importance of substitutes takes on its full meaning. But in a final, nobody dreams of being “important from the bench.” This is where human management becomes as crucial as tactics.
