Marquinhos, the 31-year-old central defender and captain of Paris Saint-Germain, spoke to Ligue1+ after the 3-0 victory against Nantes this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in a rescheduled match from Matchday 26 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season.
Marquinhos: “We’re in the title race and Lens isn’t giving up.”
Did you need to set the record straight after Sunday’s match?
Yes, that’s it. We couldn’t afford to lose these last few home games, and that’s what we told ourselves before the match: we’re in the title race and Lens isn’t giving up. We can’t afford to drop points, especially at home, because it’s even harder to get them away. We played well today right from the start.
When things go wrong, do you call in Marquinhos to save the day?
I’m always there when the coach calls on me. The coach has all the data to put the players in the best possible conditions. Today was a match for me, and it doesn’t matter if there was an accident on Sunday; it’s more about the data and what the coach wanted.
Marquinhos: “It’s up to us to recover well and get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.”
How do you manage to be so strong in the Champions League when you’re not playing in the league?
It’s in training, and also after the match, and we try to be as competitive as possible. When there’s no match in between and you’re playing consecutive matches, it’s much easier. When there aren’t any matches in between, it’s mainly training that you have to compensate for.
It feels good to balance training and rest. We have a lot of matches at the end of the season, and it’s up to us to recover and get back in shape as quickly as possible. Those who don’t play need to start again the next day, be ready to be in top form.
Marquinhos: “Everything for the good of PSG.”
Is it also your role to talk to the younger players, especially Mayulu, and tell him to do like Achraf? It’s not easy (laughs)?
I didn’t tell him to do like Achraf. There’s work to be done. Senny is becoming more and more important to the squad. He’s a player who’s a real asset on the wings, in midfield, and sometimes even in attack. He has a great philosophy, and he’s part of the PSG that has won and has a bright future ahead. I’ve been here a long time, and with age, I try to pass on my experience to him.
I’m from a different generation where we shouted at each other on the pitch, we fought on the pitch. When I make mistakes myself, I give them the opportunity to talk to me, no problem, I’m from that generation. All for the good of PSG.
Marquinhos: “I think for a coach, a player like that is very valuable.”
Beraldo in midfield, what are your thoughts on his performances?
He’s perfect, like me when I played in midfield with Tuchel. He adapted, and the coach saw something in him, and I talked to him a lot when he changed positions. He needs to have an open mind so he can learn the way I did back then.
I think it did me a lot of good and I learned a lot, and for him, it also opens doors with the national team. The World Cup is here, he’s playing a lot of matches, and it’s very important to have a player like that who can play in midfield, in defense, and at full-back.
I think for a coach, a player like that is very valuable. Everything he does, he does well. He’s been very effective and he’s given the defense security because he’s a holding midfielder. He knows how to cover very well in front of the defense, and that’s a real asset. He’s a player we were missing in this squad. He fulfills that role very well.
