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Mauricio Pochettino provides Lionel Messi injury update ahead of PSG vs Man City

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Lionel Messi is set to feature for PSG on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

Lionel Messi will be involved as Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night, although he may have to settle for a place on the substitute’s bench, says Mauricio Pochettino.

Messi has been out of the last two Ligue 1 matches with a knee injury, with PSG beating Metz and Montpellier in his absence and remaining top of the table.

However, they face much sterner opposition on Tuesday in the shape of the Premier League champions and Pochettino will relish having Messi at his disposal.

The 34-year-old is available, although his compatriot says he has not decided whether to start him or not yet.

‘He is in the same position as Marco [Verratti],’ Pochettino said of Messi’s fitness on Monday. ‘He is in a very good way. I think he will be in the squad but I still haven’t decided on the starting XI.’

Mauricio Pochettino is facing a stern test in his latest Champions League campaign (Picture: Getty Images)

Messi’s former manager, Pep Guardiola, will be pleased to hear this as he claimed that he would like to see the legendary forward line-up against his side, ‘for the benefit of the game.’

‘We are fortunate to have seen him during this 15 or 16-year career, I don’t know how many years he’s been a professional,’ said the Man City boss.

‘Messi speaks for himself, we don’t have to describe him or talk about him. Just what he has done in his career is more than exceptional and hopefully tomorrow he can play for the benefit of the game.’

PSG have a wealth of talent in their squad, with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe also set to be involved against Man City, but Pochettino has moved to play down expectations, saying they are an ongoing project.

‘It is a fact we are a team under construction,’ Pochettino said. ‘That is not an opinion. We have to apply common sense.

‘Look back in history in terms of how we have prepared the team. PSG are under construction. It is not up for debate.

‘Man City have been under the best coach in the world, in my opinion, Pep Guardiola. They want to win the Champions League. I would add some teams to that list, there are about 15 that can win it.’


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MORE : Pep Guardiola ‘hopes’ Lionel Messi can shake-off injury for Manchester City visit and hails PSG front three

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