Toulouse lose sixteen internationals as PSG faces ten absences
On a quiet Tuesday morning the training pitch at Toulouse looked deserted, the usual buzz replaced by the echo of empty lockers. The international break had emptied Paris Saint‑Germain’s dressing room, and a similar, even larger vacuum loomed over the club in the south.
Scale of the international absence
The French capital’s champion, Paris Saint‑Germain, had to cope with ten internationals away on duty. By contrast, Toulouse saw sixteen of its squad members depart to represent twelve different nations, a disparity that forced the entire staff to rethink its programme.
Toulouse, a Ligue 1 side whose roster spans twelve nationalities, found itself with a dramatically reduced pool after only four days of rest. Head coach Jens Berthel Askou could recover only a handful of players for the next training cycle.
The available group received personalised drills, while the internationals followed bespoke programmes coordinated with their respective national teams. This split approach highlighted the logistical strain of managing so many overseas commitments.
Training challenges and preparation
Absences were so extensive that Toulouse could not even arrange an eleven‑against‑eleven intra‑squad game. A friendly against Pau offered a glimpse of match rhythm, but the 18‑year‑old reserve keeper Nathan Zoko was drafted in to complete the line‑up.
Midfielder Casper Tengstedt summed up the atmosphere: “For those who stayed, the coach made sure we challenge each other.” His words underscored the need for internal competition amid the depleted roster.
Having sixteen internationals is a testament to Toulouse’s growing project, especially for a club that cannot match Paris Saint‑Germain’s financial power. Guillaume Restes, for example, used the break to join the France squad, adding further prestige.
The upside comes with drawbacks: fatigue, late returns, time‑zone adjustments and the loss of collective training sessions. Ahead of the trip to Monaco, the team must prepare with an almost entirely reshuffled squad, reviving a tightly contested rivalry from last season.