Dembélé & Mendes are also out
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After “a night full of emotions,” Bayern star Luis Díaz reached out to Paris Saint-Germain’s seriously injured Achraf Hakimi via social media. “I wish Hakimi a quick return to the pitch,” Díaz wrote on Instagram after his tough start against the former Dortmund player the evening before. But that won’t happen that quickly.
Hakimi has badly sprained his left ankle and will be out for several weeks, PSG announced. On top of that, Ousmane Dembélé also injured his left calf and Nuno Mendes injured his left knee, and they will also not be able to play for the next few weeks.
Full-back Hakimi hobbled out of the Prinzenpark Stadium on crutches and with an orthopedic shoe on his left foot after the defending champions’ 2-1 defeat against the German record champions on Tuesday evening, and that too on his 27th birthday.
Luis Enrique: Football is a contact sport
The best thing about Díaz on Tuesday evening in the Prinzenpark were his two goals in the first half. The worst thing was his over-motivated and, in its consequences, unwise tackle against his opponent Hakimi. He had to be led off the pitch in tears, supported by supervisors. Díaz was shown a red card for his cocky action after a video review. “The most important thing is that we really hope that Hakimi gets better quickly,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany after the game.
“Football is a contact sport. It’s a shame for Hakimi,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique leniently with Bayern professional Díaz. Like Kompany, he recalled Bayern’s reverse experience with Jamal Musiala after the game. The Munich international seriously injured his left leg in the lost quarter-final against PSG in Atlanta at the Club World Cup four months ago. The then PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma fell fully on Musiala’s leg during an intense collision. The 22-year-old still can’t play again.
Kompany defended Díaz. “He’s a very honest boy. He didn’t do it specifically. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone.” The Bayern coach tried to explain the action. “The whole game is played at the highest intensity.” And at that moment Díaz was perhaps a little tired.
PSG is also worried about Dembélé again
The Champions League winner is now not only worried about Hakimi, but also about star striker Dembélé. The 28-year-old offensive star was injured in his thigh for a long time at the start of the season. He had problems again before the Bayern game, but was still somewhat surprisingly in the starting line-up. But the Ballon d’Or winner wasn’t on the pitch for long.
Shortly after a goal was disallowed for offside (22nd minute), the striker was limping more and more. And after just 25 minutes it was over for him. Dembélé walked to the sideline and disappeared into the locker room.