PSG's Tuchel: Verratti injury 'worst thing that could have happened to us'

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel watched his team destroy Guingamp 9-0 at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, but the German manager was downbeat after the match because of Marco Verratti's first-half injury.

The Italy international midfielder had to be withdrawn after less than 20 minutes after appearing to roll his ankle. His reactions to the injury suggested that it could be bad -- fears echoed by Tuchel when he spoke with Canal+.

"I have had no news about Marco's injury, but that is not good," said the former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 boss. "I think that it is serious. Really, it is the worst thing that could have happened to us."

"We have several options in midfield -- Marco with Marquinhos, Dani [Alves] with Marco, Dani with Julian [Draxler], or Dani with Marquinhos," Tuchel later added in his news conference. "However, without Marco, and with Presnel [Kimpembe] still injured, we only have one choice."

Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani both scored hat tricks, while Neymar added two more goals and substitute Thomas Meunier got another in the lopsided win.

Tuchel was blown away by his team in front of goal and reserved special praise for Alves after his shift in midfield.

"I do not think that I have ever seen a 9-0 league win -- we put in a very complete performance," Tuchel said. "Dani's mentality and energy were exceptional. He can play short, as well as fast, and can also provide assists. Dani can help us in midfield as he has the mentality and bravery to do so."

Despite the comprehensive nature of the win, Mbappe told beIN Sports that "wins like this are never trivial -- last week's defeat to Guingamp proves that," while Gianluigi Buffon suggested that there was extra motivation after PSG's recent Coupe de la Ligue exit at home to Saturday's visitors.

"It was a special match as they knocked us out of the Coupe de la Ligue," the Italy international told beIN Sports. "We wanted to show that we are still the best team in France.

"In football, it is very important to respect your opponent. When you respect your opponent, you score when you can score -- that is what we did."

However, Guingamp's Etienne Didot branded his and his teammates' collective performance as shameful and "ridiculous."

"We made people happy with our Coupe de la Ligue win here, as well as the win over Rennes, which we enjoyed, but we must also be able to realise when we should be ashamed and look ridiculous," he said. "We were ridiculous here and we can be ashamed of what went on. We are ashamed right now, totally ashamed."

Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec likened his team to a youth side and blasted the "beginners mistakes" that he saw just over a week after a deserved Coupe de la Ligue win in the capital.

"We lost in every aspect of the match," he said. "We were drowned, and we made beginners mistakes -- it felt like I was watching a Gambardella [youth] team up against a Ligue 1 side.

"We won here 10 days ago, and I do not think that we stole that result. Ten days later, we were quickly punished."

Baked into the comfortable win was a Cavani milestone. The former Napoli man scored his 100th goal at PSG's home ground.

He said: "I am also very happy to have scored my 100th and 101st goals at Parc des Princes. I keep writing myself into this club's history and I still want to score more goals to help my team. The 100th was a one-two between Angel [Di Maria] and Neymar, who put the ball on my head and I was able to nod it in."

Next up for PSG are Strasbourg at home in the Coupe de France next Wednesday before a visit from Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday.