On Wednesday, during the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, Paris Saint-Germain will face Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg (kick-off at 9 p.m., CET). On the eve of the match, Paris midfielder Vitinha (26) answered several questions during a press conference.
Vitinha: “It’s tough, but we’ll do everything we can to succeed.”
How are you feeling after the summer? How do you find the motivation again after last season’s incredible run?
I’m doing very well, just like last year. We were hungry for more titles, matches, and trophies. It’s no different now; we want more. It’s tough, but we’ll do everything we can to succeed.
Are you ready to start tomorrow? To play the full 90 minutes?
Yes, I feel ready. We know the preparation period is short, but you have to choose between rest and preparation. You can’t have both given the time available. The team and I will be ready. We’ll do everything to win and lift the trophy.
What is Kvaratskhelia’s mindset like? Did missing the World Cup give him extra drive?
He looks great to me—really eager. He hadn’t played in a long time, and since he missed the World Cup, he was even more motivated to be here. I hope he’s ready, just like the rest of us, to put in a good performance.
Vitinha: “We’re expecting a very tough match; that’s always the case against English teams.”
A word on Aston Villa? Has Digne mentioned them?
The best person to answer that is the coach. I’ve spoken to Lucas, but we didn’t talk about Aston Villa. We’ll go over the details with the coach. But we all know Aston Villa. It’s a new season, and teams change. We’re expecting a very tough match; that’s always the case against English teams. We’ve seen that before.
Do you remember the Champions League quarter-final second leg? Was that a defining match?
It was really tough, especially the second half. It’s going to be very difficult; we’re facing the same coach. A lot can happen in two years, but the coach and his ideas are still there. It’s going to be a very tough match. We know this is the kind of match you rarely get to play in a final. We’re going to make the most of it and do everything we can to win.
Luis Enrique has said he doesn’t dwell on past titles and focuses on the present. Is PSG’s strength the ability to start fresh? How do you manage that?
I think we’re all aware that a season has its ups and downs. There wasn’t much consistency in our two victories. You shouldn’t look too far ahead; that would be a mistake. So, you have to put past wins behind you. You have to focus on the future and always want more. That approach has yielded good results, so we’re going to stick with the formula.
Vitinha: “In my opinion, it would be fair for a PSG player to win it.”
Who is the favorite for the Ballon d’Or? Kvaratskhelia or someone else?
There are a lot of great players who could win it. In my opinion, it would be fair for a PSG player to win it—like Kvaratskhelia or Ousmane Dembélé. Or Fabián Ruiz, who won everything. For me, it would come down to those three. But there are other players, too, like Kane or Mbappé. I hope it’s a Parisian.
How do you feel about your World Cup experience?
Of course, with Portugal, we didn’t get the result we wanted. But now isn’t the time to talk about that; we’re back with the club. We’ve rested and prepared for tomorrow’s match. That’s our focus.
