The coach of Paris SG found his team “very concentrated” on Sunday during the very wide friendly victory against Le Havre (0-9) which marked his return after four months of interruption.
How do you analyze this large victory?
Thomas Tuchel: The best thing is that no one got hurt. Everyone benefited from being together on the pitch. It’s something other than training. We had a good game, with seriousness and a good frame of mind. Our attacks were fluid, the defense was serious. It was a good test. It’s not easy to resume after a four-month break, but the team is very focused, very calm. The players are happy to be together.
How do you react to the draw for the Champions League, with this quarter-final against Atalanta Bergamo?
It’s going to be a very difficult match, very close because they have a lot of quality. It was absolutely clear to me, on Saturday we saw against Juventus (2-2) that it was a very balanced team, very offensive, very physical. But now is not the time to lose your mind with this game. The challenge is to arrive in Lisbon with two titles, to also prepare the match against Saint-Etienne (in the final of the Coupe de France, July 24). It is the only one in my head, and after that is that of Lyon (in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, July 31). Then we have 12 days to prepare Bergamo. It is absolutely necessary to do it step by step.
How do you judge the public’s return to the stadiums?
It was a surprise. Because in Germany, Spain or England, they play without an audience. We really like it, it really changes the atmosphere in a stadium. But the most important thing, it is not the coach who wants spectators, it is that everyone is in good health.
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