Mbappé training return boosts PSG for Atalanta quarterfinal

Requiring crutches himself on sidelines, Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel's greater concern seemed to be Kylian Mbappé's fitness.

sight of forward with ball back at his feet in training was a welcome one for French treble winners on eve of Champions League quarterfinal against Atalanta on Wednesday.

″If he trains well today, and thing special happens, he will be on team sheet tomorrow," Tuchel said before training session at Benfica’s stadium.

“We are also happy that Kylian can be in group, maybe we can finish game with him and Neymar, because it gives him a player that he likes to play with.”

It would be a rapid recovery for Mbappé, two weeks after being ruled out for around three with an ankle ligament injury sustained in French Cup final.

With 30 goals in 34 appearances this season, Mbappé could be key to ousting Serie A's top-scoring team, which is in Champions League for first time.

"Atalanta, it’s clear y play a very unique style," Tuchel said. "y play almost one vs. one on whole pitch. y attack with seven players in opposite side. It’s a unique style as I said. It’s difficult and complicated to play against m. y have also scored a lot of goals.″

Tuchel will be looking for goals as well from Mauro Icardi, with Edinson Cavani out of squad since his deal expired earlier in summer after coronavirus pandemic saw season extended.

″Mauro is super important especially with Kylian’s injury and Edi Cavani gone," Tuchel saiad. "It’s of paramount importance that he plays well. He needs to show his personality, that he is a fighter in big games. He is never afraid, he can always score.

“He is very reliable defensively. He is very well-integrated in this group. It was also t too complicated for him as re are several South Americans in squad. It’s moment for him to show that he can send us in semifinal.”

PSG hasn't reached semifinals in 25 years, long before influx of Qatari investment in French capital club in 2011.

Neymar has experience in going even furr, though, lifting European Cup with Barcelona in 2015.

w it's time for world's most expensive player to deliver in Champions League again, just as he did in round of 16. Brazilian scored in both legs as PSG overcame Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on aggregate.

″I feel like he always plays with pressure ... but he likes it," Tuchel said. "We can’t imagine amount of pressure. I feel like it’s always like this. He can deal with it, he likes that. He likes big decisive games, he is always reliable in big games, that’s where he is at his best.

"I’m absolutely convinced that he will have a great game, that he will be key player for us tomorrow. He has quality and mentality for that sort of situations.″

Im credits: AP