“He refuses to play” – PSG shaken by an internal conflict just hours before facing Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain have been hit by internal tensions just hours before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool.

The French champions are looking to move a step closer to defending their European title when they host the struggling

Reds at the Parc des Princes tonight. They’ll also benefit from extra preparation time ahead of the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday after their Ligue 1 fixture against Lens was postponed.

Although many neutrals see Luis Enrique’s side as clear favourites, their preparations for the match have been disrupted by unrest within the squad.

According to the Daily Mail, club officials are reportedly unhappy with Fabian Ruiz after he ruled himself out of the clash due to a knee injury that has kept him sidelined for nearly three months, despite initially being considered a minor issue.

L’Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi explained that Ruiz has repeatedly insisted he will not play while still experiencing pain, even avoiding training at the slightest discomfort. This stance has reportedly caused friction within the club, with some senior figures believing he is now fully fit and could have featured in last Friday’s Ligue 1 match against Toulouse.

For Liverpool, who arrive in Paris lacking confidence, any potential advantage could prove crucial. The apparent unrest in the PSG camp may offer Arne Slot’s side an opportunity to exploit.

Ruiz, a European champion at both club and international level, had been a regular starter under Enrique before his injury, and his absence is a notable setback, even though PSG comfortably progressed past Chelsea in the previous round.
While the likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves, Lucas Beraldo and Warren Zaire-Emery provide strong midfield options, the team is still arguably less effective without the Spaniard.

However, Liverpool are also dealing with their own internal disagreements, with Florian Wirtz recently contradicting Virgil van Dijk’s claim that the team “gave up” during their FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.

If Liverpool are to defy expectations and secure a positive result in Paris, they will need one of their strongest performances of the season—built on unity and focus from start to finish.