Paris Saint-Germain has declared Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes fit and available for the Champions League final [1].
The return of these three players provides a significant boost to the squad's tactical options ahead of their clash with Arsenal. PSG requires its primary starters to be healthy to compete for the trophy after a grueling path to the final.
The match is scheduled for May 30, 2024 [2], in Budapest, Hungary [3]. This appearance follows a tense semi-final series where PSG advanced past Bayern Munich with an aggregate score of 6-5 [4].
The announcement follows a period of uncertainty regarding the health of the squad. Earlier reports indicated that Dembele and Hakimi had been absent from the club's final training sessions [5], which raised concerns among supporters and analysts about their ability to start the match. Additional reports noted that Dembele missed a specific training session leading up to the event [6].
Despite these absences, the club has confirmed that all three players passed their fitness tests. The availability of Hakimi and Mendes ensures the team has its preferred defensive structure on the flanks, while Dembele provides a critical offensive threat in the final third.
The team is now focused on the final preparations in Budapest. The club has not released further details regarding the specific nature of the injuries that caused the training absences, but the medical staff has cleared the trio for full participation [1].
“Dembele, Hakimi, and Mendes passed fit and are available to play.”
The availability of these three players removes a major variable for PSG's management. By securing the fitness of key wing-backs and a primary attacker, the team can implement its standard attacking strategy rather than relying on makeshift substitutions in one of the most high-pressure matches of the season.
