PSG has no choice: it will be necessary to win Wednesday, against Dortmund, in order to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel's players had indeed bowed to go to Germany. Defeat 2-1. Cheap paid considering the content. And finally, a result that is not so bad in view of the previous European Cup. This outside goal, the work of Neymar on a Kylian Mbappé offering, changes everything. With a 1-0 victory, Paris qualified. An assertion that made Thomas Tuchel laugh, in images relayed by the club of the capital. "1-0 is enough, but I really feel that we are not a team that can really aim for 1-0," he adds. We have a team that likes to attack, and we're going to attack. We will try to score as many goals as possible. ” And the German coach added: "If we were to finish on this score, I would be absolutely happy (smile). But we will try to do more. ”
»READ ALSO - Monaco, Mbappé, Haaland: the stats to know before PSG - Dortmund
And this despite this closed session, the uncertainty that hangs over the participation of Kylian Mbappé, Thiago Silva, the absences of Marco Verratti and Thomas Meunier, suspended, or the postponement of the match in Strasbourg, last Saturday. Report which at least allowed Parisians to enjoy a little rest. "For me, it was negative, corrects Tuchel, whose traditional press conference the day before the match was canceled, like that of Lucien Favre. We did the flight, but we couldn't play ... It was a last test and it was Saturday, four days before Dortmund. No problem adapting to this intensity and this workload of a match. It's a shame ... But now, it continues to be a bit odd (smile). We will have to play without our supporters. In a match like that, a return match, it's super important to create a special atmosphere, tension, pressure on our opponent. Now, with all the news about the coronavirus, Kylian Mbappé, there are a lot of things to think about, a lot of things to adapt to. But it's a soccer match and we have to adapt. I really hope that we are able to adapt, we have confidence. But the difference is too great to speak of. ”
Mbappé and Thiago Silva, decision Wednesday
Regarding Verratti and Meunier, the Bavarian also admits having decided who will replace them. For the second named, no doubt: it is Thilo Kehrer who will stick to it. “We will determine the final composition of the 11, and who will be on the bench, this Tuesday afternoon. We will make the final decisions with Kylian and Thiago Silva (Wednesday) morning. " In this case, Mbappé suffers from angina and has missed training for the past two days. As Tuchel agreed on RMC , the ex-Monegasque will not, in any case, be 100%. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to start, or even enter the game.
»READ ALSO - PSG-Dortmund D-1: Mbappé still sick, decision Wednesday morning on his participation
Thiago Silva? "He did all the training and we have to decide tomorrow whether he will play or not. At this time, I think he will be in the group, "promises Tuchel, on PSG TV . Already a good performance, the Brazilian having been announced a time lost for this match with a thigh injury and three weeks of absence. "All the others are there, except Ander Herrera, injured," concludes Thomas Tuchel. Everyone, including Edinson Cavani, the latter having been forced to shorten his work session Monday for personal reasons.
For the rest, we know that Borussia Dortmund arrives in full confidence and almost complete, only deprived of its captain Marco Reus, as when going. Lucien Favre's players have retained the seriousness and solidity that have characterized them against PSG in their last three games. Three victories, including two on the road and the latest to date, last Saturday, in Mönchengladbach (1-2). “They played almost with the same 11 holder, always with the same structure. We analyzed these matches, and the match too, notes Tuchel. Afterwards, I am convinced that we are in a better time. We have more players in a good rhythm even if we didn't play against Strasbourg, it was a shame. But we did training sessions with a lot of intensity. It is a very dangerous team, with a lot of speed in the counter-attacks, they like to make the transitions. And for that, one of the keys will be to know where we will lose balloons, because we will lose them, like everyone else, but we cannot lose them too quickly, too easily and in too dangerous areas. For that, we will have to be attentive and very intelligent. ” It is at this price that Paris Saint-Germain would return to the quarterfinals of C1 for the first time since 2016.
Read also
- PSG-Dortmund D-1: Mbappé still sick, decision Wednesday morning on his participation