Marquinhos, PSG captain and 31-year-old centre-back, stopped in the mixed zone after the penalty shootout victory (1–1, then 3–1 on penalties) against Flamengo on Wednesday in Doha, in the final of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup.
Marquinhos: “We also have to praise the staff, who did a great job helping him.”
On Safonov’s performance
“It’s very important, in moments like this, to have a goalkeeper you can rely on. We also have to praise the staff, who did a great job helping him. And then there’s his own quality — being there at the right moment, having the timing to go for it. There were high-quality players, players who are used to taking penalties. You needed a goalkeeper who could deliver.”
Marquinhos: “We played the match we needed to, even if it wasn’t our best.”
A big club that knows how to win even when it’s not at its best — does experience matter?
“Yes, absolutely. We didn’t play our best match, but it was still a good one. They were a team that put us under pressure. They worked on things to exploit our weaknesses. We managed it well. On an incident, they got a penalty to come back into the match. It’s a final — that’s how it goes. We had more chances, more possession. We played the match we needed to, even if it wasn’t the best. In a final, it’s all about the details.”
Marquinhos: “You always have to give more if you want to keep winning.”
Six titles — is that historic? Your best year?
“It’s the greatest year in the club’s history, and I’m part of it. We won almost everything, except the Club World Cup. It shows the club’s ambition and philosophy. The club has invested a lot to get us here. It’s a pleasure to still be part of it, to be with this group. You always have to give more if you want to keep winning.”.
