Champions League final selection dilemma: PSG boss to make a call on right-back
PSG boss Luis Enrique is facing a selection dilemma for the Champions League final against Arsenal as he is yet to make a call on the right back role.
The return of Moroccan right back Achraf Hakimi, after being on the sidelines since the end of April due to a hamstring injury, to active play during the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest against Arsenal is set to put manager Luis Enrique in a major dilemma about whether Hakimi should start the game. If it so happens that the Moroccan does play, the PSG boss will have to find a solution to accommodate midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, who has put in an excellent shift at the right back position left vacant by Hakimi’s absence.
As reported by Le10Sport, journalist Vincent Duluc has commented on this rather bizarre situation. He said, “Zaïre-Emery as a substitute in the Champions League final? It’s shocking, it’s unfair, it’s terrible, it would be cruel.”
Duluc further said, “The equation is either Hakimi can’t play, in which case Zaïre-Emery is right-back, or Hakimi can play and Zaïre-Emery competes with either Fabian Ruiz or Neves. What’s unfair is that Zaïre-Emery has started four times in a row this season, while everyone else hasn’t stopped. He’s had a fantastic season.”
The journalist further commented on the excellent season that the midfielder had for PSG, saying, “He’s started 40 times in a row when others were a bit injured and refused to train or play. It would be really unfair if Zaïre-Emery weren’t a starter.”
This bizarre and complex situation is not necessarily a negative for the French side. It definitely shows how brilliant the squad depth of PSG is, and Luis Enrique will definitely depend on all his players, starters and substitutes alike, to make an impact in Budapest.
