Achraf Hakimi Targets Return for PSG’s Champions League Final vs Arsenal

Achraf Hakimi has returned to training as Paris Saint-Germain prepares to defend its UEFA Champions League title in the final against Arsenal on May 30.

The 27-year-old Morocco international is currently in a race to regain full fitness after a right hamstring injury that sidelined him during the latter stages of the club’s semi-final campaign. According to reporting from the Standard, the defender’s return to the pitch is a critical development for the Parisians ahead of the showpiece event at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.

Details of the Hamstring Injury

Hakimi’s injury occurred during the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich, a match that PSG won 5-4 at the Parc des Princes. The injury happened late in the game while Hakimi was attempting to close down Bayern’s Konrad Laimer deep in the opponent’s half.

The defender immediately pulled up clutching his right hamstring and required treatment from the medical staff. While he was able to walk off the pitch without assistance, he did not return to the game. Because PSG had already exhausted all their substitution windows, the team was forced to finish the closing stages of the match with ten men.

As a result of the injury, Hakimi missed the second leg of the semi-final in Germany, as well as the Ligue 1 fixtures that took place on either side of the European ties. PSG eventually advanced to the final after overcoming Bayern Munich with a 6-5 aggregate score.

Recovery Timeline and Medical Status

The club has provided a positive medical update regarding Hakimi’s progress. In an official statement reported by the Standard, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the current status of several players:

Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Chevalier and Quentin Ndjantou are training individually outdoors.

PSG Statement

To ensure he is fit for the May 30 final, the club’s medical plan involved Hakimi sitting out the match against Lens on May 14 and the final league game of the campaign against local rivals Paris FC over the following weekend.

Squad Availability and Injury Concerns

While Hakimi’s return is a boost, PSG is managing several other injury concerns heading into the final. The club has confirmed that Kang-In Lee is currently sidelined with an ankle problem sustained during a 1-0 victory over Brest.

Lee joins a list of other key players currently unavailable for selection, including:

• Willian Pacho
• Nuno Mendes
• Warren Zaire-Emery

Mentality and Final Preparations

Beyond the physical recovery of the squad, the team’s internal dynamics have been highlighted as a strength. Reporting from Goal.com indicates that Hakimi credits manager Luis Enrique with transforming the culture within the squad.

Hakimi stated that Luis Enrique changed the mentality of PSG and described the current state of the team by asserting, We are a family!

This mental shift comes as PSG looks to replicate the success of the previous season. Hakimi played a pivotal role in last year’s campaign, having opened the scoring in the Champions League final victory over Inter Milan.

The upcoming clash against Arsenal represents the culmination of the season, with PSG aiming to secure another European crown in Budapest.