MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain will make a late decision on whether to play Kylian Mbappe against Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals, coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Monday.
The France striker missed the 2-1 victory over Lens in the French league on Saturday because of a calf injury.
Mbappe travelled with the squad to Manchester for the Champions League game taking place on Tuesday, and initially will train alone when PSG has its scheduled eve-of-match practice.
Pochettino said he hopes Mbappe can join full team training by the end of the session.
“There is still one day and we will see today,” Pochettino said. “We still didn’t decide if he is going to be available or not for tomorrow.”
Having Mbappe — one of the world’s best players — available will be vital for PSG, which lost the first leg 2-1 on Wednesday and needs to score at least two goals to stand a chance of advancing to the final for a second straight year.
He had also been a doubt before the first leg, but shrugged off a minor thigh injury and played the entire game at Parc des Princes.
Mbappe has eight goals in this Champions League, second only to the 10 netted by Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
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