Ahead of the Champions League clash against Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha was interviewed by beIN Sports, discussing the battle for possession, the team's accumulated experience in the Champions League, and the challenges of being the defending champions.
Reporter: As Paris Saint-Germain's midfield playmaker and the primary ball-player initiating attacks from deep, will tomorrow's match come down to a battle for possession and control? Or should we expect a more direct confrontation?
Vitinha: I think it will definitely be a match where... I wouldn't say more direct, but both teams might have less possession than usual. This applies to both us and Barcelona, because we want to control possession and dictate the flow of the game, and they do too.
These are two teams that press high, apply continuous pressure, and intensely desire possession. But there's only one ball on the field, so the course of the game will largely depend on this dynamic.
However, even so, I believe we still have the ability to control possession during certain phases of the game, although it's impossible to do so throughout the entire match. But I think it will be crucial for the entire team to be in top condition tomorrow.
Reporter: Vitinha, since the semi-final against Dortmund in 2024, the team has clearly accumulated richer experience, and Paris Saint-Germain has weathered more Champions League tests. Do you think—or rather, firmly believe—that Paris Saint-Germain now approaches these high-stakes matchups with far greater certainty and confidence than before?
Vitinha: Yes. If I answer your question directly, my answer is yes. But I think this is more of an external perception. Because within our team, we have had great certainty for a long time, even when we didn't win in Luis Enrique's first year. We had a clear understanding from the outset of everything we do, how we should play, and how to approach every game.
But of course, when you start winning consistently, see positive results, and everything is moving in our favor, the feeling is different, and you gain stronger self-confidence.
Reporter: The media narrative now labels Paris Saint-Germain as "the number one target," the team everyone wants to beat. How do you handle this?
Vitinha: It's natural. As the defending Champions League champions, everyone naturally wants to beat Paris Saint-Germain. We anticipated this would be the case. While the matches become more difficult, it's also an excellent challenge for us.
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