Champions League: PSG without Ugarte against Dortmund?

“We have doubts about a player and his physical condition,” declared Luis Enrique on RMC, on the eve of PSG-Dortmund during the first day of the Champions League group stage. “For the rest, I know who is going to play,” added the Spanish technician, while the medical point of the capital club was very reassuring. Only Marco Asensio and the long-time absentees Nuno Mendes and Presnel Kimpembe were mentioned, not Nordi Mukiele nor Fabian Ruiz, absent last Friday against Nice (2-3), nor Kylian Mbappé, who returned injured in the knee of the the French team but who played against the Aiglons, with a double on the line.

It remains to be seen who this uncertain player is. Still according to RMC Sport, it is Manuel Ugarte, who was reportedly injured in training this Monday. No further details regarding the injury of the 22-year-old Uruguayan international, recruited this summer from Sporting for €60 million and who is already essential in the midfield. We saw this clearly on Friday, when Luis Enrique left him on the bench at kick-off knowing that the person concerned had returned late from the rally with the Celeste, like Marquinhos with Brazil for that matter. Unlike his Brazilian captain, however, Ugarte came on in the second half. “He was a big revelation for many supporters but he was already playing very well at Sporting. He's a big recruit, Luis Campos has worked very well. He is a young player who has a strong character. He is important because he brings balance to the team,” analyzed Luis Enrique at a press conference earlier this Monday at the PSG Campus in Poissy.

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To see who would be responsible for compensating for a package from Ugarte on Tuesday against BVB. On Friday, it was Warren Zaire-Emery who shifted into the role of sentinel, still with Vitihna and Carlos Soler higher up. The experience should not, however, be repeated... RMC instead imagines Danilo Pereira, starting in the central hinge against the Niçois, in the event that Manuel Ugarte should forfeit. For the rest, there is no major upheaval to expect, with undoubtedly the return of Marquinhos to the starting 11. We'll see who, Randal Kolo Muani or Gonçalo Ramos, will be responsible for supporting Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé on the attacking front.