Luis Enrique: Kvaratskhelia Will Return Stronger Than Ever

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has expressed complete confidence that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will overcome his latest setback and return in even better form after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The 25-year-old Georgian winger suffered the devastating blow during PSG's 4-2 win over Barcelona, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Kvaratskhelia has played an instrumental role in the French champions' recent success, contributing to back-to-back Champions League triumphs. The manager emphasized that the Georgian remains an indispensable figure in the squad and will retain his leadership status once he completes his recovery.

"Unfortunately, right after the match, we knew the injury was serious. He has our full support during this difficult time. It is tough, but you have to keep a positive mindset. Any professional competing at the top level for a decade or more will inevitably face injuries — that is simply the reality of football," the Spanish manager explained.

"Khvicha has a warrior's spirit and needs to take the positives even from a situation like this, and there will definitely be positives once he recovers. He was, is, and will remain crucial to our team. We stand firmly behind him, and I have no doubt he will come back stronger than ever," Enrique added.

The champions host Lyon at the Parc des Princes on Monday, looking to make it five wins in a row and continue their climb up the table. Les Gones pulled off a 2-1 victory in Paris back in April, a result the Spanish tactician believes provides added motivation.

"Facing Paulo Fonseca's Lyon gives us extra motivation. We haven't forgotten how they performed at our ground last season and how they managed to win with a strong display. Everything is in our own hands — we must show our quality and prove we are ready to win every game," the manager said.

"We have significantly improved our league form. Three or four weeks ago we were trailing the top spot by quite a margin, but now we have a genuine chance to go top. Our main goal is to finish as high up the table as possible," Luis Enrique concluded to DPA.