Blaise Matuidi Adds to PSG's Pre-Chelsea Champions League Return Injury Concerns

Paris Saint-Germain got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at AS Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de France quarter-finals on Wednesday.

After Olympique Lyonnais handed them their first defeat of the season in Ligue 1 on Sunday, Edinson Cavani, Marquinhos and Lucas Moura’s goals ensured Laurent Blanc’s men resumed normal service against Les Verts and booked their place in a second consecutive cup semi-final.

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However, despite a swift return to form, there was some bad news for Les Parisiens.

Blaise Matuidi had to be substituted after 67 minutes at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, and the France international is a doubt for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old was holding the back of his leg shortly before he came off, suggesting the injury is to his hamstring.

Questioned on the extent of Matuidi’s problem shortly after the Saint-Etienne win, as reported by ESPN FC’s Mark Rodden, Blanc admitted his decision to withdraw the midfielder was a precaution and that tests would be needed to determine the exact nature of the injury:

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I took him off as a precaution because he felt a pain behind his leg. We'll see [on Thursday]. I'm not worried for the second leg against Chelsea in the Champions League—but I'm lying to you when I say that. Because when a player leaves the pitch with an injury, I'm always worried.

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Although the full extent of the injury is unknown, losing Matuidi for the trip to London would be a massive pre-match blow for PSG.

The Frenchman, at his best, is irrepressible. His all-round ability and capacity for lung-busting runs have become key features for Blanc’s strongest starting XIs. He is one of the capital outfit’s most combative players and a highly influential figure on and off the pitch.

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If he plays, Matuidi will come to the fore against Chelsea on a tight Stamford Bridge pitch. The PSG No. 14’s tirelessness will be of crucial importance, and his ability to win back possession would be hard to replace.

The news about the former Saint-Etienne man’s injury and possible unavailability is a big concern ahead of the journey to the English capital.

With Angel Di Maria and Marco Verratti already working hard to be ready to face Chelsea, Matuidi is the third PSG man with a question mark hanging over him as the clash approaches.

For Blanc to be missing one of those three men would be bad enough, but two or more would be simply catastrophic for the French champions’ hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive quarter-final.

Matuidi, Di Maria and Verratti have until Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash with Montpellier HSC at Parc des Princes to prove their fitness. If the Argentina and Italy internationals can, then Le President will be more relaxed about the French midfielder.

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In all likelihood, Matuidi probably would have been rested for most—if not all—of the Montpellier clash anyway. If he just needs a few days of rest to be ready for Chelsea, the timing might turn out to be perfect.

However, if Matuidi’s injury is anywhere near serious, he immediately becomes a major doubt for the encounter with the Blues.

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In such a scenario, Blanc would likely look to move Di Maria back into the midfield with Verratti and Thiago Motta while aligning a front three of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas and Cavani.

Failing that, the 50-year-old tactician might opt to replace Matuidi with Adrien Rabiot in order to keep a front three of Di Maria, Ibrahimovic and Lucas.

The France under-21 international was substituted with 11 minutes left in Saint-Etienne, possibly as a precaution with Matuidi’s fitness uncertain.

In an ideal world, though, PSG’s indomitable midfield warrior will be fit enough to play against Chelsea, and Blanc will be able to name his ideal starting XI at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.