While it is rare for Parisian players to pour out in the mixed zone, Marquinhos gave us a nice gift after the victory in Nantes (0-3) this Saturday. The Parisian captain stayed more than 5 minutes in front of the microphones to discuss all the subjects. In particular the entry into the running in the Champions League which will take place next Tuesday, at the Parc des Princes, against Juventus.
We saw a solid and serious PSG.
MARQUINS. It was flawless! We knew the context of this match, before the Champions League. It was important to play a serious match, performing well with the three points. We left points at home (Editor’s note: against Monaco), we also have to go get some outside. It will be important for the title.
Does the fact of chaining a second clean sheet before facing Juventus make you happy?
It gives confidence. Our job is to make the team feel safe and take zero goals. It shows that we did a good job. Even if our team is very offensive, we manage to manage the opposing chances well. It’s important to be effective behind, because in front we have great quality and we know that our attackers will surely score at least one or two goals.
Do the good performances of Lyon, Lens and Marseille keep you under pressure?
There are many things that will still happen. It’s only the start of the season, but as I said in another question, these are important points in the title race. Nothing is won yet, it’s good that teams are behind us. You have to maintain performance, be efficient. We must win.
Lionel Messi is the only member of the “MNM” to have started all the matches, how do you judge his physical condition?
It’s good for him, he’s confident. If he manages to string together the matches, that’s the most important thing for him. He has the experience and when he needs to breathe, he’s the first to tell the coach. We see him on the pitch, he is active, he tries to find the spaces, he tries to get his teammates to play, to score too. It’s good that he remains confident and that he has legs, because we have big deadlines coming up, starting on Tuesday. When he is going to need a breather, he and the coach will know it.
Are you ready for Tuesday’s clash?
The team has worked well so far, it was the best preparation. We had good matches, we won, we just had two consecutive clean sheets. We were good on the outside too. In the Champions League, we know that there is always a different context, these are separate matches. The good preparation is done, but now we have to ensure by performing a great game at home to win.
What inspires you about Juventus?
There are friends there, I played against them when I was in Italy, but it’s been a long time. The team has changed. There is always this Italian character, this physique, a lot of tactics. It’s a team that puts a lot of commitment. Don’t expect a quiet match, it will be a high-level match. We will have to negotiate it well, these are important points for qualification.