Before Europe, France. And after Europe, France again. Lyon-PSG, semi-final of the Coupe de France, opens the chapter of a month of summits for the two teams, mathematically well placed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Before finding himself, perhaps in the shoes of a quarter finalist therefore, in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, April 4 at the Stade de France. The first to take back his baton of European pilgrim will be the PSG, in a week straight, facing Dortmund, short winner in the first leg (2-1).
For Paris, weaned from major tests, for Neymar, prevented from playing through his fault, his injuries, his suspensions or the "giant" precautionary principle applied by his club, this half under pressure is very timely. "I am happy that we have the possibility of playing a match like that, it is good for us, breathed this Tuesday Thomas Tuchel, even evoking a shock of" Champions League level "which arrives" at the right time ". "Mentally, it's time to prepare and observe who is able to show quality, to manage a match with tension like this," adds the technician.
A puzzle for Tuchel
The German faces a small dilemma, which could cause him to tremble during his team composition, as he showed in the Ruhr. Either he leaves with his best players in the right positions - so Marco Verratti in the middle and Thomas Meunier to the right of the defense - or he already places their replacements for the reception of Dortmund for which the Italian midfielder and the Belgian defender are suspended. “It's a good question,” admits the coach, moreover, and we thought we heard “puzzles” instead of “questions”. The idea is overflowing to qualify against a team in full leap, winner of Juventus and Saint-Etienne in the same week, as if the fear of emptiness transcended it.
A week from Dortmund and a week after Juventus, indulgence escorts the steps of Lyon who did enough to have the right to lose this Wednesday night against Paris, defeated in the final on penalties last season against Rennes in the test. For PSG on the other hand, already in hysteria after the setback in Germany, stopping now would add confusion. Internally, the players first think of Lyon, aware of the issue and a new title within spikes. Dress rehearsal is now!
VIDEO. PSG: Icardi-Cavani, the match continues
