This Wednesday at 9pm (broadcast on Canal+), Paris Saint-Germain (25th) take on Manchester City (22nd) at the Parc des Princes as part of matchday 7 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase. In a press conference, 24-year-old citizen striker Erling Haaland spoke about the match, dismissing the past but not Parisian qualities or his desire to play this match.
Haaland “there’s good energy.”
Is City back on top?
I feel a really positive energy in the club. It’s been a difficult period, everyone knows that. But there’s good energy, we’re training well and we can’t wait for the next games.
You came here with Dortmund 5 years ago and were knocked out.
It was a great game for them, but no, I don’t see it as revenge. What happened is in the past. I’m happy to be playing this match, it’s going to be a great one.
Haaland “There’s no excuse, you always have to try and find a way to win games with the team.”
Is it getting harder for you to score with more attentive defenses? How can you improve?
Yes, it’s getting harder and harder. But again, it’s a positive thing. When people pay attention to you, focus on you, that’s the best thing as a player because it means you’ve done things right.
There’s no excuse, you always have to try to find a way to win games with the team. As a striker for Manchester City, I have to score. I have to find out how to get the opportunities, do my best and score.
As for the match 5 years ago, there was a lot of tension around your celebration, with your messages on social networks saying that Paris was your city. Where do you stand now?
It wasn’t the best possible atmosphere, with the COVID the stadium was empty. I don’t think too much about it now, about what happened. I’m concentrating on what I can do. I can’t wait to play this match.
Haaland “We have to do our best, we have to win.”
Is the PSG team as impressive as before with the likes of Mbappé, Neymar or Messi?
We’ll see. The last time was 5 years ago, a long time ago. They’re very good in the league, less so in the Champions League. And so are we. That doesn’t mean we don’t have an impressive team. PSG will always be a top team, with a fantastic coach. We know it’s going to be a very tough game. We have to do our best, we have to win. That’s how it is with Manchester City and PSG.
There’s a debate about PSG playing without a real 9. Do you think it’s essential to have one?
As a 9, I shouldn’t say it’s good to play without one (smiles). But people do things in different ways. City have been very strong without a number 9. You can be very strong with or without it. It depends on many things. I hope Pep wants to play with it (laughs).
