The potential absences of Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, who were demoted in status and excused from training on Tuesday, could pave the way for Randal Kolo Muani, who has been struggling at PSG, to resurface this Wednesday in Nice, in a late game of the 32nd round of Ligue 1. The French forward has no time to waste: on Thursday, the day after the match at Allianz Riviera, Didier Deschamps, the coach of Les Bleus, will announce the list of players who will compete in Euro 2024 in Germany this summer. While he is certain to be part of the adventure (from June 14th to July 14th), the former Frankfurt player hopes to regain some confidence in a match that, according to coach Luis Enrique, will simply serve to show “that he is a player worthy of wearing the PSG shirt next season.”
The Spanish coach, initially protective, seems to have lost patience with the 25-year-old forward, giving him little playing time: 25 unremarkable minutes against Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals earlier this month, followed by nothing.
Kolo Muani did not see action at Parc des Princes in the second leg against Borussia Dortmund (a 0-1 defeat), nor in the home loss against Toulouse (1-3) that preceded the club’s celebration of their 12th league title.
Enough to definitively undermine the player’s morale, affected by the pressure he seems to have faced since his transfer to Paris this summer, labeled as the club’s biggest offseason signing (over 90 million euros for five years).
“Randal Kolo Muani is a great player, a great signing, but he is going through a period where he does not have 100% confidence,” admitted Luis Enrique two weeks ago.
This time, the 25-year-old player is expected to take advantage of the discomfort of Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, who were excused from training on Tuesday, to play against Nice.
Paradoxically, Mbappé’s departure, a friend and driving force behind the move to Paris, could be beneficial for the other player from Bondy. While awaiting news on future signings for PSG’s attack, Mbappé’s absence will free up a spot in the Parisian attackers’ rotation.
And Kolo Muani knows how to play without the captain of Les Bleus: his last goal in Ligue 1 was in February, in a 3-1 victory against Lille where the number seven was not used. Kolo Muani only needs two French league games and the French Cup final against Lyon in Lille on May 25th to regain composure and position. Then it’s time for the European Championship, where his spirits are high.