Champions League QF: Playing against Atalanta 'a huge challenge' - PSG Coach Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Paris Saint-Germain is seen on crutches during the PSG Training Session ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Atalanta and PSG at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel feels his players have ‘prepared in the best fashion’ for the big game against Atalanta on Wednesday and reveals he could have Kylian Mbappe in the squad.


PSG had to turn around a 2-1 defeat to Tuchel’s former club Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, but the German coach thinks they are facing another ‘huge challenge’ against Atalanta at the Estadio da Luz tomorrow.

“It’s hard to play against Atalanta,” he said at a press conference.

“It’s a huge challenge, but there are always possiblitites.

“Atalanta have a unique style – almost one on one across the whole pitch. They attack with seven players in the opposition half.

“It’s difficult to play against them. They’ve scored a lot of goals and are a great team. There are chances to find spaces but we have to play well.

“It will be a tactical game, but also a mental game. Our latest training sessions were a good mix of concentration and team spirit. We suffer together, but we also fight and play together.”

On Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, Marco Veratti, the German Coach said: “If he (Mbappe) trains well today and if nothing extraordinary happens, then he’s in the team tomorrow.

“We have to wait and see, to be patient with Marco,” Tuchel added.

“Last week it wasn’t possible for him to run but yesterday he started running again.

“[The injury] was an accident in training, really bad luck. Now we are in a phase where Marco can step up his work.”

Paris Saint-Germain German Head Coach Thomas Tuchel on crutches during a training session as the French side prepare to clash against Italian side Atalanta at the Estadio da Luz, Lisbon Portugal. Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

On clinching two home trophies - Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, Tuchel said: “We all have the feeling we’ve prepared in the best fashion. For us it was really important to win the two Finals.

“It wasn’t easy to restart after a four-month pause and then four weeks’ preparation to play two Finals as the big favourites.

“That was a big challenge mentally for the players but to win was the best preparation for this tournament.”