Paris (AFP)

The curse of the Champions League has hit PSG again: Marco Verratti suffered a "significant contusion" in his right calf one week before the quarter-final against Atalanta Bergamo on August 12, while the return of Kylian Mbappé remains uncertain.

"We must now wait (the gravity). I do not know exactly the diagnosis but we are worried", lamented the Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel in a press conference, after the announcement of the medical press release, which specifies that "the evolution "of the injury will be announced" in the next 72 hours ".

But the Italian "could withdraw" for the quarter-final of C1 against Bergamo, according to French radio RMC and beIN sports. Very bad news when Angel Di Maria is already suspended for the meeting and the infirmary continues to fill up.

Mbappé and Layvin Kurzawa injured, Thilo Kehrer and Mauro Icardi uncertain, not to mention the long convalescence of Juan Bernat and the unreplaced departures of Tanguy Kouassi, Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier since June 30 ... A potential list of absentees which begins to do a lot for Tuchel.

"It's a big uncertainty, a big problem! It's always the same when it comes to Champions League matches. There is always negative news ... I don't know why but it is like that" , he blurted out, fatalistic.

- Mbappé returns to training -

"We're playing a Champions League quarter-final, not a friendly match in seven days, but a Champions League quarter-final! And after a 4-5 month break (due to the Covid-19 pandemic, editor's note ), we arrive with two official matches (national cup finals, editor's note)? How many injured players? Pfff, it's super complicated ... ", he added, in a very annoyed tone.

Can the evolution of Kylian Mbappé's injury make his coach smile? In its statement, PSG announced that the French world champion "continued his recovery protocol as planned and" resumed the race without a ball on the grounds of the training center ".

What to be optimistic about? "Honestly, I have no idea," Tuchel said earlier on beIN sports, referring to a "point on Saturday with the doctor as to whether it is possible that he is on the bench against Atalanta".

"Kylian does everything he can, he heals himself 24 hours a day, every day. But can he do it? I don't know. And if he does, can he do a great performance? I don't. don't know ... ", he added after the last check-up.

Within the management of the Parisian club, as annoyed by the situation as its coach, the "unfair" decision of French football to stop the season, unlike its rivals Italian, German, English and Spanish, remains in the balance. throat.

- Bernat back, "Choupo" scorer -

The repeated injuries and the lack of pace displayed, compared to his future European opponents, are the "consequence of a French context which did not help", breathed a leader on condition of anonymity. "This is not an excuse but a fact," he hammered.

The only good news for Tuchel and PSG: the return of left side Juan Bernat on the pitch, in a disaster area, who played more than an hour on Wednesday against Sochaux (1-0) in the final preparation match .

"This would mean that he may be available against Bergamo, because he is a key player," said Tuchel, while the only alternative is Mitchel Bakker (20), inexperienced at the highest level.

Neymar, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, or Presnel Kimpembe were left to rest for this last rehearsal before the C1, as a precaution, intended to "prepare the players for the context" of the "Final 8" of the C1.

Sitting in the stands, they could only see an opportunistic goal from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (15th) and the failed attempts by Pablo Sarabia as alternatives in the event of major withdrawals in the offensive sector. The only ones still available.

© 2020 AFP