Marco Verratti has been included in Paris Saint-Germain’s team for the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City.
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The 23-year-old Italian midfielder has not played in nearly two months with a groin injury suffered back in February, with his inclusion in the side leading some to believe Verratti was set to make his return at the Etihad.
However, PSG manager Laurent Blanc has said in his pre-match press conference that it would take a “miracle” for Verratti to feature on Tuesday.
Marco Verratti is here because we decided to bring the whole squad.
He’s not been available for a month and a half. Everyone knows what condition he is in at the moment.
After the first leg against Manchester City I told you certain things. You didn’t believe me and you said it was too radical, that there must be something else to it.
So I replied that for Marco Verratti to take the pitch in the return leg, it would need a miracle. So we’ll wait until tomorrow and see if a miracle occurs tonight. That’s where we are.
Blanc will also be without two other starters in Blaise Matuidi and David Luiz, with both players serving suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
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Verratti has only scored three goals in 157 appearances for Paris, but his vision and playmaking in the midfield are often the key to the side’s attack. Without Verratti and Matuidi, the young Adrien Rabiot will likely get another start in the center of the midfield.