02 January 2023 , 12:49
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Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi have both been handed "a few days off" after PSG 's shock loss to Lens.
The Ligue 1 leaders won on their return from the World Cup, seeing off Strasbourg, but were undone by their nearest challengers four days later. Mbappe, fresh from his heartbreak in Qatar, was among the star-studded cast who were beaten in Lens.
PSG conceded after four minutes before levelling the contest, but then conceded twice to lose 3-1, which has seen their gap at the top trimmed to four points. Mbappe was without Neymar or Lionel Messi alongside him and will now take some time out as the games continue to come thick and fast.
Parisians boss Christophe Galtier has confirmed: “Hakimi and Mbappe will have a few days off. The plan was that they could play these two games. They will now recover.” Players have tended to be given 10-day periods to rest up, which would see the pair return for the game with Rennes on January 15.
Mbappe started in six of France's seven games at the World Cup, leaving with the Golden Boot after his sensational hat-trick in the final. His focus will now shift to domestic matters as he eyes another league title as well as the Champions League, which he and his club are yet to capture.
Mbappe misses two penalties and open goal in one minute before going off injured
Clubs around Europe are having to manage player workloads however following the first ever mid-season World Cup. It has placed increased demands on individuals and Galtier claimed PSG have taken each case individually as they assess whether or not to rest player, which he suggested was more of a mental decision as opposed to a physical one.
Kylian Mbappe will enjoy a period of rest (Getty Images)He said: "There are individual cases with the players who went very far. Achraf Hakimi played in every game at the World Cup for Morocco. He was in the team of the World Cup. He wanted to get back as quickly as possible, as did Kylian Mbappe.
"He also turned in some brilliant performances and was the top goalscorer at the World Cup. After speaking to him and all my different teams who stayed in regular contact with the players, Kylian Mbappe wanted to join back up with us pretty quickly."
Messi was a notable absentee from the PSG squad that travelled and lost to Lens. The 35-year-old is still basking in his country's glory after helping Argentina win the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Galtier said: "As for Leo Messi, who had a brilliant tournament, given they won the competition, he went back to Argentina for the celebrations."