“Ready for tomorrow.” Failing to give indications on the composition of PSG against Saint-Etienne, Sunday, November 28 (1 p.m.), this sentence from Kylian Mbappé on Instagram accompanied by a photo of Sergio Ramos specifies the imminent return to the latter’s field. Injured in the calf since his arrival, the Spaniard is for the second time in the Parisian group for the trip to Geoffroy-Guichard counting for the 15th day of Ligue 1.
The Parisian group @ASSEofficiel #ASSEPSG pic.twitter.com/JvNkoolvr8
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 27, 2021
His first in the group is quite recent. It dates from Wednesday during the defeat to Manchester City, in the Champions League (2-1). “He was good, with a positive attitude, always trying to help the team, Mauricio Pochettino explained at a press conference on Saturday. He has a great deal of experience, a great knowledge, a know-how that he already brings to the team. “
And as green is the color of hope, he could tread his first minutes in Ligue 1 against Saint-Etienne. Without offending the Stéphanois, the pace and intensity should be at a lower level than at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, especially for a player who has not played for almost seven months. It was last May 5 in the tunic of Real Madrid against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League (0-2).
Since then, what seemed like a good deal for Paris Saint-Germain has turned into a long tunnel, both for the player and the club. Operated on the left knee in February when he was still playing in the Iberian capital, Sergio Ramos (35) then suffered a long left calf injury since his signature, free, at PSG in early July. He should have found the lawn at the beginning of September but suffered a relapse.
“In the end, these are difficult moments, moments of loneliness. They are whole hours in the gym with the physiotherapist, the physical trainer”, summarized Sergio Ramos in an interview with Prime Video. For three months, the ex-Madrilenian has chained the sessions alone to try to get back on his feet. “You constantly have negative thoughts that sometimes make you doubt a little, he admitted. But I have always believed in myself, believed in my work. “
On November 9, the most capped Spanish international (180 caps) resumed collective training. “We are very happy with his progress over the past few weeks that he has been training with the group”, greeted Mauricio Pochettino before the trip to Forez.
“You have to see his adaptation to a new championship after several months without competition.”
Mauricio Pochettinoin press conference
Since he installs him again in the group, the Parisian staff certainly considers him physically ready to play his first minutes with the club nine times champion of France. He will be able to relieve the duo Presnel Kimpembe – Marquinhos who play a lot this season in the absence of rotation at the level (Abdou Diallo, Thilo Kehrer).
Unless once ready to start a match, Sergio Ramos is the cornerstone of a three-way defense seen this season against Leipzig in the first leg (3-2, 19 October) then against Lille (2-1, October 29). This system would have the merit of taking advantage of the quality of the revival of Sergio Ramos but above all of placing the two pistons with a (very) offensive vocation in the best possible conditions: Nuno Mendes on the left, Achraf Hakimi on the right.
PSG are not there yet, Sergio Ramos either. But the light seems to be starting to shine at the end of the tunnel for the Spaniard. Evil tongues will say it was time, almost five months after his signing.