Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly ‘unhappy’ with midfielder Fabian Ruiz, amid claims the Spaniard has refused to play through pain of a knee injury.
The Champions League holders confirmed on Tuesday that Ruiz will miss their quarter-final first leg against Liverpool.
PSG confirmed Ruiz will continue with an individual training programme as he works back to full fitness.
Ruiz has been sidelined since January, despite the injury initially being viewed as a minor problem that the club had described as a ‘bruise on his left knee’.
L’Equipe reporter Loic Tanzi has claimed Ruiz’s fitness has begun to cause frustration within the club, with officials believing his knee is now ‘completely fine’ and that he could have featured in their Ligue 1 match against Toulouse last Friday.
Ruiz, however, has reportedly been insistent he will not train or play if he feels knee pain.
‘There is one certainty, it’s what he says and that he repeats that as long as he is in pain and suffering, he doesn’t want to play,’ Tanzi said.
‘So much that he is in pain and suffering, he doesn’t want to play. At the slightest pain, he doesn’t want to train.’
Ruiz has been a crucial player for PSG, with the midfielder racking up 61 appearances in their Treble winning campaign last season.
The Spaniard has played 24 times so far this season, but has been absent for both PSG and Spain since January.
PSG boss Luis Enrique has sought to dispel suggestions the club are unhappy with Ruiz, insisting they need to give the 30-year-old ‘confidence’ as he works his way back to full fitness.
‘We have to wait for the player, there’s no problem. We’re trying to get the players back as soon as possible,’ Luis Enrique said at a pre-match press conference.
‘We’re still focused on giving the player confidence.
‘Fabian hasn’t trained with the group yet. He’s made a lot of progress, and we’re happy because he seems to be on the right track, but he still needs to do a little more.’
PSG, who will also be without Bradley Barcola through injury, start favourites against Liverpool in their quarter-final tie.
The French giants overcame Liverpool on penalties in the last 16 in last season’s competition en route to winning the Champions League for the first time.
PSG will hope to capitalise on Liverpool’s fragile confidence, after Arne Slot’s side were thrashed 4-0 by Man City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The Champions League remains Liverpool’s only remaining chance of earning silverware this season, while the Reds are still in a battle to qualify for next season’s competition via the Premier League.
