PSG: Luis Enrique has no January plan to replace Kvaratskhelia

“Not specifically. No injury means you have to sign new players.” Asked on Saturday whether PSG would bring someone in during January for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose cruciate ligament rupture was confirmed by the club on Wednesday, Luis Enrique kept his answer to one line, then softened it: “At the start of the season I said we could cope even with serious injuries. But we remain open to opportunities. That is an option we have.”

No emergency signing in January, then, but a market still being watched. According to RMC Sport, the club would rather push on with contract extension talks with the Georgian. On his winger, the coach stayed supportive: “He will come back stronger, I have no doubt.”

Doué and Godts as internal options

The staff’s options, as reported by Foot Mercato, are all internal: Mika Godts and Désiré Doué on the left of the attack, or Ferran Torres dropping deeper. “We have shown that we play the same way. That is our strength,” Luis Enrique summed up.

The absentee list stays heavy for the visit of Lyon, moved from Sunday to Monday evening because of the protests planned in France this weekend and now clashing with the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Kvaratskhelia (knee), Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos (thigh), and Nuno Mendes (muscle) are all out. “Losing three players in the same match is strange,” he added about the 4-2 win over Barcelona on 20 October.

The market has already moved

The winter window will stay quiet, the betting market has already priced the absences. Since 20 October, PSG’s odds against Lyon have drifted from 1.43 to 1.47 at 1xbet, Lyon’s shortened from 7.60 to 6.88. The fixture keeps its weight: two level on 14 points, Lyon top on goal difference, and an OL side that won at the Parc des Princes in April (1-2). Luis Enrique also reminded reporters that “from Monday we can be top”, and that “facing Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon is a motivation”.

The full read on the game, with the prediction and the stake, is in the PSG-Lyon match preview. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.