In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona 4-2 at home. After the match, PSG defender Achraf Hakimi spoke to Stan Sport about the team's performance, the difference in chance creation between the two sides, and the confidence gained from consecutive victories over Manchester City and Barcelona.
Congratulations on tonight's victory. This was a match everyone greatly anticipated. How did you feel on the pitch?
Hakimi: Yes, good evening. First of all, I'm really, really happy. You know, we really look forward to playing these kinds of games against these kinds of teams. As I said, we are satisfied with the team's performance and the effort put in by everyone. We also once again showed our ambition and proved that we want to keep winning and achieve something in this competition.
What do you think was the difference between the two teams? I just interviewed a Barcelona player who said you capitalized on your chances and they gave you too many opportunities. Do you agree?
I don't think there was much difference between the two teams. Of course, when we had the ball, we tried to control the game. We always want to keep possession and dictate play. However, there was indeed a difference in defense. Both teams wanted to press high, but I think we created more scoring opportunities and converted more chances than them. Ultimately, that's what decided the outcome of the match. I am very happy with this victory.
This must have given you a lot of confidence. You beat Manchester City last week, and now you've defeated Barcelona—both favorites to win the title.
Yes, as you said, beating teams like this gives us confidence. However, as I also said, it's still too early. We've only played three games in this competition, and there's still a long way to go. We know this competition well, but we must stay focused, keep moving forward, and try to go even further.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com