Hakimi Receives Planned Rest as PSG Aims to Prevent Burnout
Luis Enrique has never been afraid of a bold call. This week, his latest decision removes one of Paris Saint-Germain’s most reliable weapons from the firing line – by choice.
Achraf Hakimi, ever-present, ever-explosive, has been granted a complete break from club duties until the start of the next international window. It means the Moroccan right-back will sit out PSG’s upcoming Ligue 1 clash with Troyes on Saturday, a game he would normally enter as one of the first names on the team sheet.
This is not a punishment. It is protection.
Hakimi has been one of the engines of PSG’s season so far, driving from deep, stretching defences and chipping in with end product. Eight league appearances, three goals – impressive numbers for a full-back, and a clear sign of how central he has become to Enrique’s structure. But the club has decided that constant intensity comes with a cost, and they are determined not to pay it in the spring.
Club Moves Early to Avoid Burnout
This is not simply Enrique acting on instinct. PSG made it clear the decision came from a unified front within the club’s hierarchy.
“In agreement with the coach and the Sporting Direction, Achraf Hakimi is benefiting from a rest period until the start of the international break,” read the official statement, designed to close down rumours before they could start.
No mystery injury. No disciplinary cloud. Just a calculated pause for one of their star assets.
In an era where elite players are pushed through relentless domestic, European and international calendars, PSG have chosen to get ahead of the issue. They would rather give Hakimi a short spell of recovery now than watch him fade in the decisive months of the campaign.
Enrique’s Right-Side Puzzle
Of course, resting Hakimi creates an immediate football problem. That right flank has been his territory, both as a defender and as a constant outlet in attack. Without him, Enrique must improvise.
The most straightforward solution might be Warren Zaire-Emery. The teenager has already forced his way into the first-team conversation with nine Ligue 1 appearances this season, showing a maturity and tactical awareness that belies his age. Asking him to drop in at right-back against Troyes would be a test, but not an unreasonable one for a player who reads the game as well as he does.
There is another route. Enrique could turn to the academy and hand responsibility to 17-year-old David Boly. The youngster has one Ligue 1 appearance to his name and carries a strong reputation within the club’s youth ranks. A home league match against Troyes, with PSG in good domestic form, offers as gentle an introduction as top-level football ever allows.
Whichever way Enrique leans, the choice will reveal how he views his depth chart on that side of the pitch – and how much risk he is prepared to take in the name of rotation.
Troyes Test Before International Split
Tactically, PSG will still expect to dominate Troyes at the weekend, even without their first-choice right-back. The objective is simple: keep the domestic momentum rolling, collect three more points, and reach the international break with confidence intact.
For Hakimi, the pause is more of a reset than a stop. Assuming he receives the call, he will link up with the Morocco national team for their upcoming fixtures once this rest period ends. PSG’s plan is clear: send him to his country fresh, not fatigued, and get him back ready for the next phase of the season.
In a squad full of stars, minutes are a currency that must be spent wisely. Enrique and PSG have decided Hakimi is too valuable to run into the red. The coming weeks will show whether this controlled breather becomes a template for how the club handles its biggest names in a calendar that never really slows down.
