Kylian Mbape Cannot Make Up For Injuries: Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel confirm on Monday ahead of their first leg Champions League game with Manchester United that two of their key players will not feature for the game with Man United. Cavani picked up a muscle injury on Saturday while playing a penalty that won the game for PSG against Bourdeux in Ligue 1.


Tuchel who will also be without Neymer who has been out of action for over four weeks now with injury laments the lack of a complete squad to play one of their biggest game of the season.
“Neymar is one of the key, key players in Europe and we cannot replace him,” commented Tuchel. “Would Manchester United miss Pogba, if he was not there tomorrow? Of course. Would they miss Rashford, if he was not there? Of course they would. You cannot replace quality players like this.

 “Of, course we miss him a lot and now we miss a second key player with Edi [Cavani]. And with Marco [Verratti], we have a player with only 60 minutes in his legs.”

Speaking on whether the German will alter his side's playing style to make up for the absence of the stars in his team with Kylian the only first team attacker available, Tuchel said  “You can't just place all of the burden and pressure on Kylian,” he explained. “But we're talking about Mbappe. He has his own qualities. It's not really his job to replace Cavani and Neymar, and he can't do all three things at the same time. He can't be himself and the other two. He has to be free to play his game, to play with confidence and I want us to be capable to help him.
“[That means] to provide him with the right kind of support and passes. In my opinion, he needs to play with a good mindset, as it were. He needs to be positive and realise that he's here, it's part of his development. I think it's the kind of moment when you really are able to develop as a player.”

PSG were earlier pitted to be the favorite in this game especially as Man United were languishing in 6th position 11 points off the top four table and have no hope whatsoever of beating a PSG side enjoying one of the best season of their own. Though, since Ole Gunnar took over as interim manager there has been upturn in fortune as the club move to fourth position for the first time since the opening week of the season. Many including former Juventus goal keeper has since refuted the idea of PSG as favorite. He said; '... We are equal at 50-50...'