Neymar, PSG, Monaco
Coupe de France

Neymar to play for PSG against Monaco?

Neymar to play for PSG against Monaco?

Coupe de France
Publish on 05/19 at 09:36

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Neymar Jr. could be available for Paris Saint-Germain's Coupe de France final against AS Monaco on Wednesday evening.

AS Monaco - Paris Saint-Germain

 

Kick-off: 20:45 GMT

 

Neymar was booked in PSG's penalty shoot-out win over Montpellier Hérault SC in the semi-final. Allied to the red card he received against LOSC earlier in the season, the Brazilian had - like teammate Presnel Kimpembe - accumulated enough points to be suspended.

 

However, PSG have appealed the decision to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, and the duo could be available as PSG look to defend their title at the Stade de France. Neymar or not, coach Mauricio Pochettino is in confident mood.

 

Unaffected

 

"Even without Neymar and Kimpembe, it won't affect the way in which the match is prepared, it has no influence," he said. "We'll know in the next few hours. As Marquinhos said, the important thing is to win this final."

 

PSG will be without injured trio Marco Verratti, Layvin Kurzawa and Juan Bernat, while Julian Draxler is a doubt with a hamstring problem. Should Neymar get the nod, he is expected to form a Fantastic front Four with Kylian Mbappé, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi.

 

Paris will need to be at their best to get the better of Monaco. The principality side have beaten the champions home and away in the league this season, and they could still win Ligue 1 Uber Eats on the final day next Sunday, provided they beat RC Lens and PSG and LOSC slip up to Stade Brestois 29 and Angers SCO respectively.

 

Watch: Highlights of Monaco's 2-0 win over PSG in February

 

 

'Two finals'

"We know the importance of the match tomorrow," PSG captain Marquinhos, who joined Pochettino at the pre-match press conference, said. "We have two finals to play, tomorrow is the first. We're focused on that now. We know our opponent. We have to concentrate they can upset us. They've beaten us twice this year.

"As they say, is not there to be played. It it has to be won."

 

Unlike PSG, Monaco have a clean bill of health, with Stevan Jovetic, Sofian Diop and Pietro Pellegri all having travelled despite recent calf, ankle and back injuries respectively. Pochettino's opposite number Niko Kovac - who previously won German Cups with Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt - is taking nothing for granted, though.

 

"For my first season in France, having the chance to win a title is important," he said. "Not just for me, but also the players. This season, we played twice against PSG, once coached by [Thomas] Tuchel and the other by Pochettino.

 

'Underdogs'

 

"We'll have to play to our maximum. We'll be the underdogs. Paris are under pressure to win. At such clubs, you always have to win trophies. But that's not a problem for these players, who are used to playing and winning under pressure. In any case, as far as we're concerned, I believe in it enormously."

 

Monaco are likely to be at full strength, then, although first-choice goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte has made way for Radoslaw Majecki in the Coupe de France this season, and is expected to continue to do so on Wednesday.

 

Possible teams

 

Monaco: Majecki; Sidibé, Disasi, Badiashile; Aguilar, Fofana, Tchouaméni, Henrique; Volland, Golovin; Ben Yedder

 

PSG: Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Diallo, Bakker; Gueye, Paredes; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappé; Icardi

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