PSG, Achraf Hakimi: Why the Moroccan Lion Needs Time to Recover

Hasty judgments are raining down at the Parc des Princes. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Achraf Hakimi no longer displays the brilliance that was his in spring 2025. Yet the disappointment expressed by some observers after just two matches obscures a complex physiological and psychological reality. The player is not experiencing a crisis of talent, but is paying the price for an exhausting winter period, according to an article on France Bleu.

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The chronology of events calls for leniency. After suffering a serious ankle injury in early November, the full-back embarked on a race against time to join his national team. Barely recovered and lacking match rhythm, he took on the captain’s armband for a tournament on home soil, playing four high-intensity matches, often with extra time, “on one and a half legs.” The physical demands were compounded by an immense emotional burden, capped by the trauma of losing a final in front of his home supporters.

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It therefore seems humanly impossible to expect the Parisian number 2 to instantly reclaim his status as the world’s best right-back. The backlash is inevitable for an athlete who drew on his reserves to overcome the pain and pressure of a national tournament. Hakimi now needs “peace” to regenerate a body and a spirit that have been pushed to the limit over the past two months.

Paradoxically, his suspension for this Sunday’s Classico could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Although this absence frustrates the player and the supporters, the enforced break provides an essential recovery window. It will allow the Moroccan to fully process the CAN episode before building his strength again through a run of matches. In the meantime, Warren Zaïre-Emery’s brilliant stint as his replacement gives PSG the luxury of patience.