The captain of Paris Saint-Germain's next opponents has been put in a unique and difficult position.
Ligue One leaders PSG take on sixth tier Pays de Cassel away from home in the French Cup on Monday night. The round of 32 clash takes place at Stade Bollaert, home of second-placed RC Lens.
Pays de Cassel, an amateur side hailing from a village in French Flanders, near the Belgian border, beat Chaumon, Drancy and Wasquehal in previous rounds to set up a dream cup tie.
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It was defender and skipper Alexis Zmijak who notched the winner in the last round. But incredibly, it's emerged that he is a PSG ultra and regularly cheers Christophe Galtier's side from the Parc des Princes stands.
And with split allegiances, he's fearful about potentially injuring Kylian Mbappe ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
While Lionel Messi is not in the squad, both Mbappe and Neymar are expected to start the fixture.
“If Mbappe goes through on goal, do I tackle him or not?" he told Le Parisien.
"Do I say to myself: ‘Wait, he has to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League soon’. I have no stress before this game. "We have nothing to lose, it's the meeting of a lifetime for us. And for me, personally, it's great to find myself in this situation.
"I joined the CUP (Collectif Ultras Parisiens) two years ago. I wanted to be among the ultras, because for me, football is lived with passion. I want to go all out, not just watch the game. When I go to the Parc, it's not to go to the presidential gallery.”
PSG's ultras are known to be some of the most vocal in the world and have even jeered their own players on occasion.
But it really is the stuff of dreams for Zmijak and one can only imagine the scenes if his team are able to upset the odds.
Topics: Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappe
Josh Lawless