Marco Verratti, the 32-year-old Al-Duhail midfielder, spoke to Foot Mercato in an interview published this Thursday. The former Paris Saint-Germain player (2012-2023) naturally discussed the club’s current situation, including PSG’s Champions League victory on May 31st. A great moment for him, one in which he feels he played a small part, and one he believes will serve him well in the future.
Verratti said, “Each of us contributed a little something to help this club grow.”
“The joy of the victory, the bitterness of not being on the pitch, or a mix of all of that?
I never had that thought in my head, that I didn’t want PSG to win it because I hadn’t won it in my time.” The truth is, I’m really very close to everyone who has helped Paris Saint-Germain grow, and especially now that I’m in Qatar, I see even more of them.
I know everything that’s been done, and I’m really happy because, in the end, I think each of us contributed a little something to help this club grow. The way they won it was magnificent because they deserved it; they won with a magnificent style of play.
Before, I had the impression that abroad, PSG was seen as a team that bought players with the expectation of winning immediately. Here, they won with a young team that plays well. Even people who had a bit of resentment towards Paris Saint-Germain, I think they were happy.
Verratti: “I think the project is going to start on a great footing.”
So, can we say that PSG has finally healed from its past traumas?
It was like a relief, even for me, even though I’m no longer playing for PSG. I think the project is going to start on a solid foundation. It’s easier to win it again when you’ve won it once, because you know you’ve succeeded, you know that with hard work, anything is possible.
Even for the new young French players, I think that before, they didn’t want to play for PSG. They preferred to play abroad, for Madrid and Barcelona. Today, I think it’s going to be a team that will make a lot of players dream.
It’s terrible to always see this question about possible regrets come up. Why not just enjoy the moment, accepting that everyone has their era? Verratti knows he contributed a lot to PSG, alongside other great players, even if there wasn’t that famous title.
That title, even though it came with a kind of renewal and a slightly different approach, didn’t happen suddenly. A great deal of work went into making progress on the pitch, in terms of image, and in terms of revenue. This was crucial in securing the title this year.
A title that isn’t the end goal, as the management, players, and Luis Enrique often remind us. PSG must savor this moment, but above all, keep going. This title gives them even more credibility as serious contenders. It’s also a success that can attract players and generate revenue.
They shouldn’t think it’s time to relax, even though this is a huge milestone. It should serve as a foundation, to build even more confidence. Perhaps also, to raise their standards even higher. Winning the Champions League comes with a certain level of expectation.
