Interviewed by the club’s official website before the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Vitinha, the 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, delivered a very revealing statement. Between respect for the opponent, confidence in the Parc des Princes stadium, and collective faith, the Portuguese player paints a picture of a PSG confident in its strength without arrogance.
Vitinha: “We saw how good a team Bayern is.”
Finally, we have to talk to you about the clash against Bayern Munich! As observers, we’re excited to see this clash between two great teams, with two beautiful stadiums, promising fantastic atmospheres…
“Yes, we’re excited too! There are obviously other great football teams today. We saw how good a team Bayern is. I’d even say they’re the best team in Europe this year, along with us, based on their performance and the results they’ve achieved.” It’s going to be an interesting two-legged tie for everyone, but also two very difficult matches. These are the kinds of matches you want to play in the Champions League, and I hope we can reach the final.
Vitinha: “On a Champions League night, the atmosphere, which is already superb for other matches, is on another level.”
Can you describe a Champions League match at the Parc des Princes?
It’s magical! On a Champions League night, the atmosphere, which is already superb for other matches, is on another level. There’s something in the air that makes the atmosphere incredible, that connects the players and the fans. It’s very positive to feel that energy. We don’t even have to ask for it, because we know we’re going to feel it. It helps us a lot in these home matches. And I’m sure it will help us even more in the next match.
Vitinha: “I would say we are all good people.”
In your opinion, what makes this Paris team so special this season?
I would say we are all good people, which is important. It’s important to know that when we come off the pitch, everyone will give their best, including the substitutes. Everyone knows what to do on the pitch; our roles have been clearly defined. We have no doubt about what we need to do individually when we step onto the field.
The team play is working very well. The best compliment I can give this team is that if any player has a problem or is absent, the team still moves forward. Any player will do the same thing, and sometimes even better. We’ve already proven that several times this year, and we proved it last year as well. In the big matches, even if we have one, two, or three players missing, we’ve always played well, and, more importantly, we’ve won. “
Vitinha’s statement speaks volumes about the Parisian mindset before this clash. Bayern Munich is recognized as a formidable opponent, perhaps even one of the European powerhouses of the season, but the Portuguese midfielder never places Paris Saint-Germain in a position of inferiority. On the contrary, he establishes the idea of a duel between two teams capable of dominating through style of play, intensity, and results.
His words carry even more weight when he mentions the Parc des Princes, which he describes as a true emotional magnet on European nights. But perhaps the most important aspect is his assessment of the squad: in his view, Paris is progressing because everyone knows their role, accepts competition, and is always ready to step up. This is where the current PSG seems most solid: it no longer depends solely on a starting eleven, but on a shared vision.
In this kind of match, respect for the opponent can sometimes seem like a mere formality. With Vitinha, it sounds more like a mark of maturity.” Paris knows what Bayern represents, but PSG also knows what it has become: a team capable of handling the pressure, the setting and the demands of a European semi-final.
