This Tuesday, on the eve of the quarter-final of the Coupe de France on the lawn of Dijon (6.30 p.m.), Thomas Tuchel held his traditional press conference. While the management of its workforce remains preponderant in anticipation of the Champions League match on February 18, according to him, Marquinhos, still absent from the Paris group, is not ready to start a match without condemning the presence of the Brazilian in Dortmund.
Who is forfeited for this quarter-final of the Coupe de France?
THOMAS TUCHEL. Colin Dagba and Abdou Diallo. For Marquinhos, it's too early. We prefer to let him do training. Verratti took a hit. It's too early medically. Kimpembe is the same, but it's not too serious. For Neymar, we will decide after training.
What type of match do you expect in Dijon?
I expect a very physical match, with a lot of long balls, fights on the second ball. Dijon has lost only two home games. We want to win, we have 120 minutes for that. I expect a tough game.
To what do you attribute your efficiency found on the corners?
We stopped talking about it and since then we have marked ( smile ). We spoke with the team and that was enough to have a new concentration. It is necessary to use our qualities, because Neymar and Di Maria can give good balls and we have good leading players.
Is there a negative atmosphere around the club, as Leonardo said on Sunday?
We can also say that it's a bit of our fault with the successive eliminations in the knockout stages of the Champions League. We can't wait for everyone to be super positive after Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United. It doesn't change anything. I am with the team every day, we are very happy to play this 8th finals. It is a dream for everyone to compete in the Champions League with a competitive club like PSG. We can only influence the context if we show that we are there. It is up to us to show it and not be influenced by the outside. It is the same context as a year ago. The sport is to always try again and never give up.
PSG Express
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How do you chase away ghosts from the past?
If I tell you not to think of a pink elephant, you think of a pink elephant. We still have to improve, but we have a good group. The first game in the knockout stages was never a problem. It must remain a sport. We are the first to want to win. We are not talking about Dijon. It's tomorrow (Wednesday) and we're here for that.
Do you feel that Neymar is ready? Must he play against Dijon to be ready against Dortmund?
He doesn't have to play to be ready against Dortmund. He must play when he is ready to play. We have to calculate the risk, I have to speak with the doctor and decide after the training. He has another possibility of playing against Amiens (Saturday). He is injured, we must be patient.
Is it over for Marquinhos in Dortmund?
I can only decide after Amiens. I never want to play without Marquinhos. We will see against Amiens. We will see if we have several options. It's too early to talk about it. He is with us for training. It's one thing to be there and to have rhythm and confidence for the games.
How do you manage the risk of injury?
We talk to the doctor, we have physical tests. We felt the players too, we talk with them and then we decide. The doctors also have a very clear opinion.
Do you have a strategy for the two games of the week in terms of playing time to allocate, with for example a big team against Dijon and substitutes against Amiens?
It was the plan before Lyon. But after Lyon, things happen as with Marco Verratti, Presnel Kimpembe. We must now adapt. If we can, we're not going to make 90 minutes twice for the players. Saturday and Tuesday is super close. All things influence other things. If Neymar cannot play, Sarabia plays and after that, it changes plans for Amiens. You have to be attentive and adapt to the situation. We want to arrive in Dortmund with a strong group and a fresh head.
Is there a risk of having major absentees in Dortmund?
Yes, there are Dagba and Diallo. It is too early for them. The others are possible. For Verratti, it is certain that he will be there. Marquinhos, it is sure that he is ready on Saturday against Amiens. But nothing is certain in football.
What could be the trigger for Mauro Icardi who no longer scores, with a goal in eight appearances?
With attackers, it's always the same thing: what helps are the goals. We can talk tactically, show videos but the most important is to score for Mauro, Edinson (Cavani) or Kylian (Mbappé). He has experience and there are phases like that in a season. I am convinced that he will not stop working. Everyone will help him to make things easier and happen.