Author of a mixed start to the season, at least on an accounting level, Paris Saint-Germain is preparing to launch its European adventure. Opposed to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening, during the first day of the Champions League group stage, the capital club will – once again – be expected at the turning point. However, unlike previous seasons where final victory was displayed as a central objective, the Parisians’ discourse has evolved somewhat. Present in front of journalists, Marquinhos admitted that the C1 was not a “obsession”without damaging the high ambitions of the reigning French champions.
The Champions League is not an obsession!
“The Champions League is not an obsession, not a pressure. We work because we are competitors, the club has this desire to compete in all competitions, including this one. We know the path, it’s long, we have to go step by step, it’s a very difficult competition to achieve”said the 29-year-old Brazilian defender before displaying a certain serenity at the dawn of this big meeting: “we are always very serene and calm, there is more noise outside than inside and it gets closer when the important matches approach. It’s starting to pull from all sides. In the locker room, we are very calm, we don’t hide. There are only great players in the locker room who know where we stand..
Questioned, in turn, Luis Enrique also made similar comments. “You already know my answer, we have a lot of hopes, we want to go and play, but we have no obsession. When a club is obsessed with something, it’s never a good sign. You have to have ambition, but obsession doesn’t work in any area of life.”, analyzed the former coach of La Roja. Aware of the stakes, determined, but wary before fully diving into this first shock, Christophe Galtier’s successor recalled, in this respect, the difficulty and density of such a competition.
A different approach to launch a new era?
“We have to wait and see how the competition launches, football is a wonderful sport, all results are possible. You can play an incredible match and lose, play badly and win. As a club we play all competitions to win them, that’s the objective. PSG is very ambitious, but it is necessary”. Placed in Group F alongside the Marsupiaux, Newcastle and AC Milan, the capital club will, in any case, have a lot to do to get out of a group considered to be that of “death” . Nothing, however, to scare the 53-year-old coach, recalling to conclude the ingredients, according to him, necessary to reach the summits.
“To win the Champions League, you don’t need 11 players, but 23, you have to be humble, ambitious and united with the rest of the team. You have to be humble, because sometimes your opponent is better than you, you have to be ambitious to win as many matches as possible.. Ready to do battle, PSG continues to have great ambitions in the most beautiful of European competitions, but is approaching this new campaign with a very different philosophy. It remains to be seen whether these wise words will lead to more significant actions. First elements of answers, tomorrow evening at the Parc des Princes, during the clash against Borussia Dortmund.
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