PSG’s Luis Enrique Seeks Hakimi Replacement for Champions League Clash with Barcelona

Who to replace Achraf Hakimi against Barcelona on Wednesday? Luis Enrique is having trouble finding a real replacement for the Moroccan international in his squad. The 18-year-old French international (2 caps, 1 goal), Warren Zaïre-Emery, who has sometimes been a substitute - six times already - for Achraf Hakimi since the start of the season, could perhaps do the job. "Depending on whether he plays defender or midfielder, the role is different," Luis Enrique acknowledged in a press conference. "The fact of playing the ball starting from the back, it’s not the same thing, but I think he has the abilities to be able to play in both positions." But the Spanish technician is also thinking of other PSG stalwarts. "I have other players who can play in that position," he recalled. "Carlos Soler can, Marquinhos can play as a full-back. I have a lot of options." But the experiences of Carlos Soler or Warren Zaïre-Emery on the right side have still not been conclusive.

For RMC Sport columnist Daniel Riolo, finding a replacement for the Atlas Lion is a real headache for the Spanish technician. "This right-back position is a real headache for Wednesday night because there is no real replacement. Well, there was one (Mukiele) but he no longer counts and no longer exists so it would still be very surprising if he lined him up at the time of receiving Barça. So what other solution? The two that have been tried this season is Soler at one point, or more recently Zaïre-Emery. Except that you’re a little dismantling your midfield and he’s still an important player," commented Daniel Riolo.