Lionel Messi, Neymar available for Paris Saint-Germain Champions League opener
By Agencies, September 12, 2021
Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Lionel Messi and Neymar will both be available for the team’s 2021-22 Champions League opener next week.
Both Messi and Neymar have not featured in the squad for PSG’s Ligue 1 fixture against Clermont on Saturday, and there had been fears that the duo could miss out on the clash with Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
However, Pochettino has said that Messi and Neymar did not feature against Clermont after returning late from international duty and would be available for the team’s European fixture.
Neymar has only played 66 minutes of football for PSG at the start of the 2021-22 campaign, while Messi made his debut for the club off the bench against Reims before the international break.
The French giants will also take on Manchester City and RB Leipzig in Group A.
“They came back to Paris on Friday night and trained today. I’m happy because even if they’re tired, they don’t have any physical problem,” Pochettino told a news conference after PSG’s fifth win in as many matches in Ligue 1.
“They will be here for Wednesday’s game.”
Neymar started his season against Stade de Reims on Aug. 29, the day Messi made his debut for the Parisian club, as he came on as a second-half substitute.
Both, however, played full World Cup qualifying games with their respective national teams since then.