Achraf Hakimi, Paris Saint-Germain’s 25-year-old right-sided piston, stopped off in the mixed zone after the 1-0 victory over Girona this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes as part of Day 1 of the Champions League 2024-2025 league phase. He talked about the last-minute win and his role in the team.
Hakimi “It was a bit frustrating”.
“We scored at the end, it was a tough game. They tried to take the ball away from us and press hard. We were patient and managed to score. It was a bit frustrating that it didn’t go in.
Hakimi “The coach asks me to create space”.
We made some good decisions at the end, with a bit of luck, but we had to go and get it. We had a lot of chances, we tried to find space, and then they dropped their rhythm a bit too.
The coach asks me to create space, and I’m a player who wants to help the team. I’m happy with my work”, comments relayed by L’Equipe.
Of course, we can’t say that PSG won quietly. We had to push right to the end and have a bit of success with Nuno Mendes’ cross. The latter was sorely missed earlier in a match that could also have been won by a large margin.
There’s no need for Hakimi and his team-mates to panic, even if some observers are inclined to dramatize the difficulties they encountered. They largely dominated this Champions League match and took the 3 points. That’s not too bad.
Of course, there’s still work to be done and adjustments to be made. Perhaps in Hakimi’s role, which is very interesting but could perhaps be varied a little to free up Nuno Mendes on the left. Let’s leave Paris to work serenely for the future.
