On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain traveled to face FC Barcelona in the second group stage match of the Champions League (1-2 highlights here). Speaking to PSG TV, 19-year-old midfielder Senny Mayulu, who scored the equalizer, reflected on the victory.
Mayulu: “I’m very happy to have been able to help the team, of course”
“My goal? Nuno did an incredible job. He showed real power, breaking through their defensive line. So first and foremost, it was a team effort, because before Nuno there was also work done to build up the play. He created the opening and gave me the ball.
I tried not to take too much time since the defenders were closing in fast: I shot, and it went in, so it was great. I was able to equalize, and I’m very happy to have been able to help the team, of course. It got us back into the game, and then we were able to win it at the end.”
Mayulu: “Just hearing them makes you want to make them proud”
“The supporters? Of course we could hear them—we couldn’t not hear them! If you don’t hear them, then you’ve got a problem! So yes, it gave us a boost. From start to finish, all we could hear in the stadium was them. Sometimes it was even hard to talk to each other on the pitch.
So I’m really glad we went all the way. It gave us that extra push. Even when you’re tired or have cramps, just hearing them makes you want to make them proud, to give them that feeling of winning for them. So yes, we’re very happy to make them proud, and also very happy they traveled to support us.”
This was a standout performance from Mayulu, who managed to break through Barcelona’s defense and score the equalizer. It was a wild game, since before kick-off few would have expected this Parisian side to come away with a win at Camp Nou. Deprived of several key players, PSG had to rely on its young talents to take on the Catalans.
In the end, Wednesday’s match highlighted the strength of PSG’s collective effort. The intensity the players showed allowed them to turn the tide against a Barcelona team that had dominated early on. These three points are hugely important for the Parisians, who leave Spain with an away win and can now look ahead with more confidence.
