Julien Laurent

He needs a rest.

He's getting the rest now.

He won't play against Getafe this weekend, neither the following weekend, but I'm really hoping he could be back for the first leg.

I wish it was as simple as that, Dan, but even last season they already had played better from January, that game against Manchester City that we quite often take as reference for the turning point in the season.

That was early January, I think it was January 9th or 10th, so...

Now we end of February and they haven't showed any of that kind of form.

They've got still big injuries.

Dembele not being there is a massive blow.

The biggest one maybe is Fabian Ruiz.

Not because Ruiz is like world class or anything.

It's just that midfield three of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Ruiz.

It's just what makes this team very special.

Yeah, of course, you've got Dembele who won the Ballon d'Or.

You've got the two wingers and the two fullbacks, obviously.

But that midfield three, when they are so dominant, when they press so well, when they are so press resistant themselves, I think it's very hard to get a PhD.

You can't get the ball.

You can't play out of their press.

It's very difficult.

The problem is, so far this season, is Vitinha right now is far from his best.

Neves is just coming back from an injury and Ruiz has been out now for more than a month.