PSG struggled but ended up overcoming Totenham 5-3. The European champion still fell behind twice. Each time it took Vitinha’s salvation. The Portuguese equalized for the first time with a magnificent right shot under the bar (45th), then with the left after hooking an opponent (53rd). It was already a first double in his career but the hero of the evening ended up with a hat-trick thanks to a penalty at the end of the match (76th).
“Yes no doubt, it’s a special momentassures the midfielder at the microphone of Canal+. I think it was already the first time I scored 2 goals in a match in my career. It has to be special. I am happy and content, not especially on an individual level but mainly for this important victory“, he said before moving on to the mixed zone. “I never thought I would score a hat-trick if I’m honest. I think it’s important to believe that the ball is going to go in, that you’re going to receive the ball. I was lucky. I’m very happy to do this, it’s the first time in my career. I realize that I have reached a milestone. The first year with Luis Enrique helped me a lot. I was good on a personal level, my challenge is to maintain the level of competitiveness. It’s not easy.” Elected man of the match by our editorial team with a score of 9, Vitinha, who is the first PSG player (excluding striker) to score at least three goals in C1 Layvin Kurzawa in October 2017, especially wishes to highlight the mentality of his teammates in a poorly started evening.
A preference for the left goal
“We were behind, it shows the character of the team because it’s not the first time. This time it is again a proof of the strength of our team and maintaining this personality, whatever happens in the match», continues the 3rd of the last Ballon d’Or on Canal+ before returning to the subject in the mixed zone. “Yes, it was truly an unforgettable evening, for me on a personal level as well. But yes, we must above all talk about the team, the strength that we showed once again. We were able to overcome enormous difficulties as we did many times last year, falling behind twice. And even there, with the help and the atmosphere of the Park, it was incredible. They never stopped believing in us and it shows on the pitch. And there you go, I think it shows the character of this team, the personality. We continued to play, kept our heads cool and fortunately, we were able to come back to score. I will always come back to the same thing: the team is the most important thing. The team was incredible and I congratulate everyone, the players who played, the players who came in and who helped a lot, and the players who didn’t come in too who are important. Today it was me, before it was Joao (Neves), tomorrow it will be another player. That’s how it is. The most important thing is that the team remains the same. And I think that’s the case, the team always remains the same. If this is the best match of my career? I don’t think so, I don’t think so. Especially for me as a midfielder, I don’t think the goal is a vital thing. It’s good that I can add that or that a middle can add that, but that’s not what I’m focusing on. So I say it’s not my best match, but of course it’s unforgettable. And I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life because I never thought I could score a hat-trick.” He also has a slight preference for his second strike from distance, that of the wrong foot. “This is the goal of the left because I must have one or two in my career», he jokes in good French.
Great architect of this important success in this 5th day of the Champions League, the former Porto did not succeed everything either. It was he who was at the origin of PSG’s loss of the ball on Randal Kolo Muani’s second personal goal (72nd). A mishap quickly forgotten since PSG won and with 12 points on the clock, the road to the round of 16 is wide open. To repeat the feat of last spring, it will necessarily take a great Vitinha. And the Portuguese started with high standards in C1 since he has been involved in 13 goals with PSG this season in all competitions (5 goals, 8 assists), at least five more than any other player at the club. Not bad.
