Warren Zaïre-Emery, the 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, was in the mixed zone this Wednesday during Media Day to discuss the 2025-2026 Champions League final against Arsenal on Saturday, May 30.
Zaïre-Emery: “We need to finish this year strong, with a very clear objective, which is to win this final.”
Who is the favorite?
In big matches like this, there are no favorites. It’s not a two-legged tie; it’s a single match. We are ready, we are confident. We are preparing for the match in the best possible way. We’ve seen that people think we’re the favorites, but I don’t think there are any favorites. They are the English champions, we are the French champions. The desire is at its peak. We’ll have to show what we can do with our qualities. We’re preparing as best we can; there are 10 days left.
Do you realize the exceptional period you’re living through?
When you’re in the moment, it’s hard to truly grasp it. But we mustn’t downplay it. We’ve had incredible seasons, and we have to keep it up. We need to finish this year strong, with a very clear objective: to win this final.
Zaïre-Emery: “We’ll have to be focused and minimize all the little mistakes. That’s what will make the difference.”
Which players should we fear?
I think at this level, we have to fear everyone. They’re a very strong team, we’ve seen that, they’re Premier League champions. We’ll have to be focused and minimize all the little mistakes. That’s what will make the difference.
The support in Paris?
Everyone in Paris loves PSG. We try to give our best in every match. We never get booed, even in bad times. They always push us on. We can only be proud and continue in the same direction.
Zaire-Emery: “Everyone knows which way we’re going and which direction we’re heading in.”
Your best memory of the 2025 final?
A while back, we came here to the training center and we all talked, we spoke frankly. It felt good to talk, to say what we thought. We told ourselves we were having an extraordinary season. This year, we didn’t do it quite like that, but I think we did it in the locker room, and everyone knows which way we’re going and which direction we’re heading in.
Any memorable words? What did you say?
I don’t talk much (smiles). The captains spoke, and so did the coach. After that, I don’t remember the exact words, but we all said to each other that what we had done was incredible and that there was only this one match left to do things right.
