Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel has urged his side not to worry about getting favours from elsewhere as they home in on another Ligue 1 Conforama title.
PSG will be crowned champions with eight games to spare on Sunday night, providing results go their way. If second-placed LOSC fail to win at Stade de Reims earlier in the day, then the capital club will claim a sixth title in seven seasons by beating RC Strasbourg Alsace later in front of their own fans. However, Tuchel is not expecting any favours.
"It doesn't only depend on us. We also need Lille to slip up at Reims if we are to win it this weekend. I think Lille can and will win, because they have so much quality and confidence," Tuchel said at Saturday's pre-game press conference.
"We must focus on ourselves, without thinking about the eventual consequences of this match. It is our responsibility to win, even if it is difficult to put out a team with so many players injured, because we can't take any risks with them."
'Exceptional mentality'
Marquinhos is the latest player to enter the treatment room after coming off in Wednesday's Coupe de France semi-final win over FC Nantes. Moussa Diaby is also ruled out of Sunday's game, while Neymar Jr, Angel Di María and Edinson Cavani are still absent. Tuchel confirmed that Gianluigi Buffon will start in goal.
Paris are looking to make it 12 consecutive domestic wins in Sunday's game, but Coupe de la Ligue winners Strasbourg held Tuchel's side to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in December. That is one of just three league matches out of 29 that PSG have failed to win this season.
"Some people might think it is too early in the season for us to be champions," wondered Tuchel. "When you win all the time, others start to think it is easy to win a title or your opponents are not strong enough. What I can say is that we are having a great season, the mentality of the team is exceptional, they always have the hunger to win."