PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has expressed his concern at the prospect of Marco Verratti - who picked up a calf injury in training - joining Kylian Mbappé, Layvin Kurzawa and - potentially - Mauro Icardi - on the injury list for the all-important Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta.
Injured in the calf during a training session, Marco Verratti is a chance to miss out on the quarter-final against Atalanta. The Italian is far from the only injury uncertainty for this decisive clash: Layvin Kurzawa is out, Kylian Mbappé has an ankle injury and remains uncertain, while Thilo Kehrer and Mauro Icardi are under a cloud.
'We're worried'
Thomas Tuchel reacted to this most recent twist of fate at a press conference and did not conceal his concern.
"Verratti? We're worried - he took a hefty knock. We have to wait, and I have to talk with the doctor, but we're worried," admitted the German tactician, who saw Kurzawa, Kehrer and Icardo all forced from the field with injuries in the Coupe de la Ligue BKT Final on Friday. "The state of mind? Not good, it's a big uncertainty, a big problem, plus we're down three players without Edinson Cavani, Thomas Meunier and Tanguy Kouassi [all of whom left at the end of their contract]."
Continental hoodoo
PSG have developed a reputation for struggling with the pressures of continental competition, and Tuchel practically admitted that things do have a habit of getting out of hand when the pressure ramps up.
"It's always the same thing," lamented Tuchel. "When we get close to a Champions League match, there are negative things, I don't know why."