Special envoy to Lisbon
Two positive coronavirus tests at Atlético : "If we are afraid of having cases? No. Now we are all negative. We are very vigilant. The organization of our trip to the hotel is excellent. We are very careful and I hope we will all stay negative. Not just for the game, but for health. "
Kylian Mbappé : "If he has a good training today, that nothing extraordinary happens by then, he is in the team tomorrow." ( you have to understand "in the group" when he says "in the team", editor's note )
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Marco Verratti, hit in the calf : “We have to wait. We have to be patient with Marco. Last week it was not at all possible for him to run. Yesterday he started the race. It will be very short for the half ... We will do everything, like with Kylian. It was a very unlucky accident in training. We are in a phase where Marco can perhaps speed up his work, that's good. ”
"It will be very hard against this very special, very physical team, but we are a very strong team and we will fight"
Atalanta : “They play a unique style, almost one on one all over the field and they attack against the ball seven in the opposing half of the field. It's a unique style. It's complicated to play against them. They scored a lot of goals. It's a big challenge but there is always the possibility of finding spaces. But we have to have a good match… We prepared for this match during the last three days (in Faro). We still have one last practice today, as usual. It's a tactical game, but it's also a mental game. We will have to play as we have trained in recent days, it was extraordinary, very good, a good mix of concentration, good atmosphere, spirit of competition between the players… It is also necessary to play with a smile, while playing and suffering together. But it will be very hard against this very special, very physical team, but we are a very strong team and we will fight. We have possibilities to win, but it will be very hard. ”
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The impact of qualifying against Dortmund in the round of 16 : “After the defeat against Dortmund in the first leg, during the 10 days before the return, I had the feeling that we have grown as a team, that 'We created an extraordinary competitive spirit between the players, between the staff and the players, to show that we were able to reverse this situation. It was complicated because we had key players injured, the closed session decided just before. But we did it, without conceding a goal. It gave us a lot of confidence. It was a big step forward. Unfortunately, we couldn't continue the competition, and it was really a good time for us ... Now, it's special. We have the feeling of having prepared the best, that we have recreated a spirit. It was really important to win both finals. It was not easy to start over after four months of hiatus, with four weeks of training, and to play two finals as a big favorite. We did it, it was a great mental challenge for the players, and it was the best way to prepare for this tournament. We are confident, and we are right to be, but not too much. We know it will be a difficult game, but we are a competitive squad, we are happy to be here and to play this game. ”
"Icardi? It's time for him to show that he is capable of bringing us to the semi-finals ”
Mauro Icardi : “It's super important. With Kylian's injury and Cavani's absence, it will be very important that he plays a good game and shows his personality that he is really a guy who can fight in important matches. He is never afraid, he can always score, he is reliable tactically and defensively. He is well integrated into this group. It wasn't too hard because we have a lot of South Americans. Now is the time for him to show that he is capable of bringing us to the semi-finals. "
The pressure on Neymar Jr : “I have the impression that he always has a lot! Neither you nor I can imagine ... He's a guy who likes it. He's used to playing with that pressure. We are very happy to have the opportunity to finish the match with Kylian because they like to play together a lot. He can handle this pressure. He likes it, he likes big matches, he's super reliable in those matches, matches at the highest level. And I have no doubts that he is going to play a great game and that he will be a key player for us. He has the quality and the mentality for this kind of situation. ”
Interview at a press conference
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