Fabian Ruiz, the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, spoke in the mixed zone following a 6-0 victory over Villarreal this Tuesday at the Estadio de la Cerámica, as part of the fourth matchday of the 2026-2027 Champions League league phase.
Ruiz: “After that, we played with a bit more composure.”
How do you feel after such a resounding win?
We are very happy with this victory. We knew it would be a difficult match because Villarreal is a top-tier side. But we played very well—especially in the first 20 minutes, when we scored four goals. Afterward, we played with a bit more composure, but the team maintained the same approach right until the end. We’re very pleased with the performance, the win, and the three points.
Ruiz: “It’s in our DNA.”
Could you explain the first 15 minutes? Was it the coach’s intention to start the game that way?
Yes—I think we always look to press very high up the pitch. That’s how some of the goals came about. It’s in our DNA; we always press, and we do it very high. We scored four goals in the first 20 minutes—the coach instructs us to press, which is why we win the ball back so often in the opposition’s half, allowing us to score.
Ruiz: “Winning a third [consecutive title] will be very difficult, but we’re going to try.”
The whole squad still seems hungry—how is that?
We still have that desire to win. We know that winning every Champions League match is extremely difficult; there are some very strong teams out there. But the hunger is still there, and we’re giving it our best. Winning a third [consecutive title] will be very difficult, but we’re going to try—taking it one match at a time. We’ll see if we make it to the final at the end of the season.
Were there any challenges with Achraf Hakimi before the match?
(smiling) Yes, before every match, we take some shots together and have a bit of a laugh. I told him that I would score by the end of the game… This is the second time I’ve scored a brace for PSG; I’m very happy about that, but above all, I’m happy about the 3 points—that’s what’s important for the team.
