Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to overcome the 1-0 aggregate hole they find themselves in heading into the UEFA Champions League second-leg contest against Bayern Munich on Wednesday at Allianz Arena.
However, the capital club will have to do so without Neymar Jr. after he suffered an ankle injury in the 4-3 victory over Lille OSC on Feb. 19. Manager Christophe Galtier spoke at a news conference about not having the 31-year-old for this matchup.
“I read the debate around Ney,” Galtier told reporters Tuesday (h/t Canal Supporters). “The first unfortunate is him. It is a handicap for the team. That’s 17 goals and 11 assists this season. When I read that, [PSG is] so much better [without Neymar], no! He is seriously injured.
“He has always been professional since I have been at the club. He had a difficult time after the World Cup. Is the team better balanced? Yes. But is it better that way? Having Ney in the squad is an additional asset to score goals.”
PSG will not have Neymar should they advance past Bayern Munich as the Brazilian’s 2022-23 season is over. The PSG star will have a ligament repair operation on his injured right ankle with three to four months of recovery time.
As a result, the PSG offensive duties fall on Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who have been clicking as the duo has scored in three straight games. If the Ligue 1 side goes into Munich and advances past the German giants, those two will lead the way.
