Achraf Hakimi, the 26-year-old full-back for Paris Saint-Germain, gave an interview to Bertrand Latour for Canal+. He discussed his season, the importance of mental strength, his work, Morocco, and his goals for 2026, as well as coach Luis Enrique and his approach to the game. He also responded to the rape allegations against him.
Hakimi: “I feel good.”
After this long season and all these titles, have you had time to rest a little?
Thank you for the invitation, it’s a pleasure. We were able to rest a little, but it was a bit short. If it means that next season will be the same, I’ll sign up now.
Was it enough, or would you have liked a little more?
I feel good, and during the holidays I started training again to get in good physical shape. Mentally, that’s the most important thing. This season is going to be very long, so you have to be better mentally than physically.
Hakimi: “I wanted to win the Champions League and make history.”
What is your secret to playing so consistently and at such a high level?
I don’t have any secrets. There are a lot of people who work with me at Paris Saint-Germain, including a trainer who has helped me a lot. He wanted me to be in good physical shape and perform well in every game.
A year ago, would you have imagined PSG winning the Champions League?
I think so, it’s been my goal since I came to Paris. I wanted to win the Champions League and make history with PSG. Now we’ve done it, and the year we signed Luis Enrique, we saw the work he did and the ideas he wanted to implement. Last year we reached the semi-finals, and I knew that this year would be better because he would have had more time to work.
Hakimi: “We showed character.”
Weren’t you worried about Mbappé leaving and the arrival of so many young players?
No, we knew that the most important thing was the team. As the coach said, if the team is strong, we remain strong, and we stayed united to continue with the same idea as last year. That’s what we’ve shown so far.
And with the difficult start to the season, was there a turning point for you at some point?
I think the match against Manchester City was the most important match of the season for us. There was an incredible comeback, and it gave everyone strength, and we showed that we were capable of doing that against a team like that. I think it shows that we are capable, and it changed something in our minds. We showed character.
Hakimi: “He always said that even when we lose, we don’t change our minds.”
After Manchester City’s start, did you think this season could be a disaster?
When I was on the pitch, the fans were always with us, we were stronger and that gave us strength, and we said to ourselves that we had to go for it, we had to attack and we had to turn the game around. We managed to do that.
Have there been any changes with Luis Enrique during the season?
Technically, I don’t think so. Even since the start of the season, I don’t think the ideas have changed. In games like this, we didn’t manage to score despite creating a lot of chances. We were frustrated in front of goal, and the coach called a meeting during training and said we shouldn’t panic.
We had to try to pass the ball to players who were in better positions and think more about our teammates. He always said that even when we lose, we don’t change our approach: keep the ball, control the game. Whether we win or lose, he wants us to stick to the same approach. It feels good; you have a clear idea of what to do.
Hakimi: “He communicates a lot with the players.”
Has Mbappé’s departure changed things technically?
No, it’s continuity. We’re continuing where we left off in the first year when Kylian was here. It’s just that we players know the coach’s ideas better now, and we’ve shown that it’s easier and, above all, that we can do better.
Is he the best coach you’ve ever had?
I think he’s one of the best. I’ve been lucky enough to train with great coaches, Conte, Zidane, and I’ve been given a lot of opportunities.
What is Luis Enrique’s greatest quality?
He communicates a lot with the players and tries to connect with them on a human level. We train for an hour, an hour and a half, but we spend much more time than that together. We take the time to get to know each other and the human side of the players, but also of the coach.
Hakimi: “I have to be strong on the pitch.”
Has Luis Enrique taught you anything?
Before, I didn’t play inside the game. Now, he’s taught me to play in different positions and be more versatile. It’s thanks to him that I’ve learned. He gives me the freedom to play and do what I like to do. I can play my game. I have to combine with my teammates, find the open spaces, and that’s the confidence he’s given me since he arrived, so I also give him my confidence. I have to be strong on the field.
What does he tell you about defense?
He tells me that first and foremost, I’m a defender, but he also knows that he wants to put me in attack, scoring goals and making decisive plays. My main objective is to defend, but it’s true that sometimes I move up to defend higher up the field, and physically I think I can do both, get back quickly, and it’s the coach who has found that balance for me. I give it my all.
Hakimi: “The Ballon d’Or is a dream.”
Do you talk about the Ballon d’Or among yourselves? Can you imagine a player who doesn’t play for PSG not winning it?
After the season we’ve had, we’ve improved our statistics, we’ve had a great season, and if I look back at all the seasons since I started playing soccer, I think this is my best season. The Ballon d’Or is a dream. I never thought about it before, but when you put me in the Ballon d’Or debate, you start to think about it a lot.
Hakimi: “After the season I’ve had, which was historic, there aren’t many players who have scored in such important moments.”
Would you have imagined it one day?
The truth? No. Now, I think that since I arrived, my first dream was to be a professional soccer player. Then, when you grow up, as you see at some point, you think about trophies like the Ballon d’Or. When people put me in the debate, it’s a dream I never thought about, and if there’s a chance to win, I deserve it too.
Do you talk about it among yourselves?
We don’t have time to talk about that. We talk about the team, but individual things come later. When you think about team things, individual things happen on their own.
Do the statistics make you stand out?
After the historic season I’ve had, there aren’t many players who have scored in such important moments, and I think I’m a midfielder, but no, I play on the back line and I had to think about defending. The statistics I’ve had this year aren’t those of a normal defender.
Hakimi: “That’s my job, you have to earn respect. I play not to lose, I don’t like losing, even with friends.”
Did you work up front?
I was young, people don’t know this, but I started out as a striker. When I was 15, they changed my position and then I started playing behind you.
Why do you talk so little?
I try to stay focused on myself, my work, and my family. I don’t talk much with people I don’t know; I’m shy. With my friends, I’m more relaxed; they know what I’m like. We joke around. It’s easier to build trust that way.
Are you calmer this season?
That’s my job, you have to earn respect. I play not to lose, I don’t like losing, even with friends.
Hakimi: “When the player knows I didn’t touch him and there’s a foul, I don’t like it.”
How do you deal with injustice?
It’s horrible, I don’t like it. Even more so when I know I’m right. When the player knows I didn’t touch him and there’s a foul, I don’t like it.
Is that something you work on to calm yourself down?
Yes, but before, I was hot-headed, now I try to calm down. The referee also makes mistakes, that’s not my problem.
How do you feel about the rape allegations against you?
I’m calm. It was horrible and unfair. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone because it’s not right. I know the truth will come out. I don’t blame myself for anything, and the people who know me know that. I’m calm and trying to focus on the most important things in my life: my family and soccer.
Do you have a strong bond with your mother?
She’s one of the most important people in my life, along with my children. She’s the one who gave me everything. She’s the one who made the effort to get me where I am today, to become a soccer player. I know how hard she worked for me. I’m going to try to give my all on and off the field to make her happy.
Hakimi: “I know that conditions aren’t the best in Morocco.”
You have created an association. Is it important to give back?
Yes, it’s something we started three years ago. It’s been a goal of mine ever since I’ve been in a position to give back. I haven’t forgotten where I am today and where I came from. I know how hard it was to get where I am today, and I know that conditions aren’t the best in Morocco.
I know that conditions are not the best in Morocco, especially for young people, and we try to provide opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams. We do this through sport, trying to build things so that players can achieve their own dreams.
Hakimi: “I try to attend all the training sessions and stay ready for every match.”
You quickly became an international player for Morocco, even though you could have played for Spain?
It’s true that when I was at Real Madrid’s academy, Morocco called me to join their team. That’s great, it’s my parents’ country and my heart told me that my place was there.
People who have dual nationality like me can choose Morocco today because they can see that the country is starting to grow and is trying to do what everyone else is doing. I also want to thank Hervé Renard for the first selection. He told me he wanted me to be close to the team. He gave me the opportunity to start with the pros.
Do you want to break the selection record because you already have a lot at 26?
I try to go to all the selections and stay ready for all the games. I try to enjoy myself with the Moroccan team, there are a lot of games coming up and we’re going to try to be ready for all of them.
Is one way to increase your number of caps with Morocco to go far in the Africa Cup of Nations?
It’s a dream come true for Morocco to host this AFCON. It’s magnificent. After that, it’s also my goal to do great things with Morocco, and the main goal is to bring home the cup.
How will you handle the pressure? Not you, but the other less experienced players?
I think it’s good pressure, it’s pressure that we have to manage well. We have to take responsibility and understand the importance of this competition, especially since it’s being played in Morocco. It’s a clear goal for us, especially when we’re playing at home.
Will you be ready for the European Super Cup match?
We’ve prepared well this summer, now there’s one week left, we’re going to prepare well together and stay focused. It’s a title that PSG has never won, it will make us even more part of PSG’s history and we’re going there to win.
Hakimi: “The most important thing is mentally and physically, we’re ready.”
They started training before you had even finished the season with your club.
The schedule isn’t easy, we know that. The most important thing is mentally and physically, we’re ready, but on the pitch, we don’t need much more vacation time.
Does Luis Enrique ever tell you that this match is more important than any other?
Yes, we’ve achieved great things with the PSG jersey, but we need to win every match. Everyone wants to beat us, but now we’re playing for the title. We’re going there to win.
Are you the favorites for the next Champions League?
No, I don’t think so. We’re strong, we have a lot of players, but we’re going to stay focused and take it one game at a time.
Which teams do you see as your main competitors?
Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético, City.
