ATA 1-2 PSG: 'We were in total control and deserved to go through' - Les Parisiens Coach Tuchel

Paris Saint-Germain striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (left) scored the winner for the French side in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final 2-1 triumph over Atalanta inside Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Paris Saint-Germain

Thomas Tuchel insists PSG ‘absolutely deserved’ to reach the Champions League semi-final and he ‘never got the feeling we wouldn’t score’ against Atalanta.

La Dea were leading up until the 89th minute thanks to a Mario Pasalic curler, but Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in stoppages to turn it all around.

“Today was the 50th birthday of the club, so a game like this, on such an historic occasion, having already won four trophies this season and now into the semi-final…” Tuchel told RMC Sport.

"A special day!" for Paris Saint-Germain ⬇

A special day!

Our 5⃣0⃣th anniversary and qualification to the semi-finals of the Champions League 🎉

🔴🔵 #ParisEstMagique pic.twitter.com/cIiFWSDG7Q

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020

“We certainly will not forget this day.”

Despite the difficulties they had against an Atalanta side put together for less than it cost to just sign Kylian Mbappé, Tuchel was always confident.

“I never got the feeling we wouldn’t score a goal eventually. I even told my assistants, once we get one, I’m sure we’ll score a second straight away.

Atalanta took the lead in the 27th minute through Mario Pasalic but lost it all in the last minute of the game when Marquinhos levelled for PSG and Choupo-Moting sealed it up for the Les Parisiens who have now reached the semifinals of the tournament

“We played a very, very good match and our qualification for the semi-final is absolutely deserved. Naturally, there was also a bit of luck, but if you watched the whole game, we deserved to go through.

“We were in total control for the second half, found our rhythm and the players who came off the bench were exceptional, making a big difference. The goals were down to the mentality of this group.”

Tuchel watched the game sitting on an ice box on the touchline, as he is using crutches after fracturing a bone in his foot last week.