The duo of Neymar and Sergio Ramos are likely to miss a crucial UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash Real Madrid in February.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino, gave the uncertainty on Sunday.
Both players are struggling to get back to fitness ahead of the first leg against Carlo Ancelotti’s men on February 15.
Pochettino who spoke before the French Cup match against Nice which they lost 6-5 on penalties after a barren draw Monday night, said he cannot guarantee their readiness against the La Liga giants at present.
He said, “I do not know,” Pochettino said. “Neymar has completed a running phase. There will be an evaluation and we should know more on Monday. You never know with an injury. We must see how Sergio’s issue evolves each day. We do not know how long he will be unavailable.”
Neymar is still nursing an injury and Ramos is yet to get stability on the training pitch which is giving Pochettino a lot of concern.
“There is a decision to be made,” Pochettino said of the group which has since seen Juan Bernat return to fitness ahead of his likely return to registered status. “It is a numerical question. We have 18 players and there are 17 places.”
For that to be cleared up, PSG would need to move on certain undesirable players who have so far shown little willingness to leave the club with Layvin Kurzawa, Julian Draxler and Mauro Icardi all available in the event of a serious offer arriving.
“Our position is clear,” said Pochettino ahead of the final 24 hours of the January transfer window which are now unlikely to see Tanguy Ndombele joining from Tottenham Hotspur on loan with an Olympique Lyonnais return more probable. “The club made significant efforts last summer. I am very happy with my squad.”
Pochettino is unarguably running out of patience to see his star men Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi getting back to high class performance as expected but the duo are still lagging behind in attack.
“We are happy with how Leo has trained this week,” the 49-year-old said. “What he has done has been good. He played 30 minutes last time. He is in good condition to start. With Kylian, it is a question of complicity. Their connection is starting to show — they are both great players.”
PSG face Lille OSC and Stade Rennais in their two Ligue 1 games leading up to the Real clash which is good preparation considering the pair’s continental form but the questions over Neymar and Ramos will not be answered for at least another week.
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