(Paris) French defender and international Lucas Hernandez “suffers from a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament” in his left knee, Paris SG announced Thursday the day after his exit due to injury against Dortmund, a hard blow also for the Blues at the The Euro is approaching in June, which he will miss.
That the 28-year-old remained on the ground for a long time after his clash with “BvB” scorer Niklas Füllkrug and then left with a grimace were already two bad signs.
Less than 24 hours after the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, PSG delivered the results of its medical team. “Lucas Hernandez suffers from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The MRI performed today confirmed the diagnosis established by the club’s doctors on Wednesday evening,” the club said.
“The player will undergo surgery in the coming days. A new point will be made subsequently,” said PSG.
PHOTO FRANCK FIFE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Niclas Fuellkrug and Lucas Hernandez
The blow is tough for the Parisians, who to keep their dreams of a first Champions League title intact will have to reverse the situation against Borussia Dortmund without one of their experienced men, who has been in the center for several weeks.
He also helped out for several months as a left back. Luis Enrique also appreciates him for his “grinta”, his determination not to let himself be walked on.
“When I signed with PSG, I made a promise that I would give my heart and soul to this team and that’s what I did. Unfortunately during last night’s match, I got injured. I tried to get back on the pitch and continue to fight for the team, but it was not possible,” Lucas Hernandez reacted on Instagram on Thursday.
“I will come back stronger than ever,” he added.
“A new difficult test”
His qualities also made him one of Didier Deschamps’ trusted men, who will have to do without his services for Euro-2024 taking place from mid-June to mid-July in Germany.
The coach of the French team will unveil his list on May 16 and the presence of the name of Lucas Hernandez is extremely unlikely given the seriousness of the injury, which generally requires long months of convalescence.
What the French Team’s
The Blues will meet again from May 29 at Clairefontaine.
Kylian Mbappé, his captain with the Blues and teammate at PSG, posted on Instagram: “My warrior, a new difficult test, but you will never be alone, we are all with you. Big strength my brother.”
It is also a hard blow for the player’s morale: Lucas Hernandez had already had to leave the France team at the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee during the first phase match group against Australia.
The Blues nevertheless managed to reach the final, and his brother Théo Hernandez, AC Milan player, offers serious guarantees.
To ensure the depth of the bench, Ferland Mendy, holder with Real Madrid, could be called up or, less likely, Lucas Digne.