The first diagnosis was unfortunately the right one for Ousmane Kanté. Out on injury in the 22nd minute on Tuesday against Caen (1-0), the Guinean international central defender is suffering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He will be operated on this Friday at Pitié-Salpêtrière. His unavailability is estimated between six and eight months. Locker room executive and vice-captain, Kanté, 32, who arrived at the club in 2018, is at the end of his contract but has a one-year option in the event of a move to L1. But even if Paris FC remains in L2, the leaders will offer him an extension.
On the sporting level, it is a big blow for Thierry Laurey’s team which should therefore end the season with a central hinge Samir Chergui – Ousmane Camara and Axel Bamba or Maxime Bernauer on the right side (the latter two can also evolve in the axis).
“Ousmane is a leader in the locker room, where he is respected, and on the pitch,” explains Thierry Laurey. He gives everything for the team and shows a lot of commitment. I hope we will be able to offer him a gift worthy of his investment. That is to say, to be in L1 when it can return to the field in December 2022 or January 2023… For this, Paris FC, which no longer has its destiny in its hands, will have to achieve a faultless performance in the last four days to hope to grab 2nd place, synonymous with a direct climb to L2.
A series to continue in Bastia
“These two 1-0 victories against Rodez and Caen, even if they were obtained in pain, did us good, recognizes Thierry Laurey. There was a little extra soul, we didn’t take a goal. But we will have to show more in the last four games. »
In Bastia, the staff should rotate the team a bit. As we saw on Tuesday against Caen where Morgan Guilavogui and Warren Caddy played half time each, the return of the injured now allows the coach to have more solutions.
“We have to bring a bit of freshness,” says Laurey. But we have to be careful because we have a lot of players coming back from injuries and we are also in Ramadan. Physically it affects. We try to manage it as well as possible with the players concerned. (Editor’s note: no fasting on match days). This match in Bastia will be difficult. Bastia is promoted and is having a good season. For me, with 40 points, they are almost saved. They have just lost at home for the first time this season against Guingamp (a record of 4 wins, 12 draws and 1 defeat at home). But we don’t have a choice, the others up front are going all out, we have to get points. We will do the accounts Friday evening. »
SC BASTIA – PARIS FC Friday (9 p.m.), Furiani Stadium. Referee: M. Kherradji.
Paris FC : Demarconnay – Bamba, Chergui, Camara, Hadjam – Siby, Iglésias – Guilavogui, Name, Hanin – Boutaïb. Replacements: Filipovic, Nkambadio (g.), Campanini, Bernauer, Demoncy, Mandouki, Lopez, Alfarela, Caddy. Entraîneur: Laurey.
Absent: Kanté, Gueye, Gory, Diaby Fadiga (injured), Koré, Diakité, Beaka (choice, reserve).