Vitinha, Paris Saint-Germain’s 25-year-old midfielder, stopped off in the mixed zone after Monday’s 0-2 win over the Seattle Sounders (video highlights Seattle Sounders/PSG) at Lumen Field as part of Matchday 3 of the 2025 World Cup. He spoke of his heavy legs at the end of the season and the Parisians’ clear objective for the World Cup.
Vitinha “we won’t hide behind fatigue and the number of games.”
“We want to get to the end of the competition. We’re focused on the next match. The fatigue is there, but so are the other teams. If we’re not good, we won’t hide behind fatigue and the number of games. But it’s true, it does exist… You have to recover well to be ready for the next one.
Vitinha “we don’t know when this opportunity will present itself again.”
It’s a great opportunity to play a Club World Cup. As the coach told us, we don’t know when this opportunity will present itself again. A lot of things can happen, but we have to make the most of the present because it’s a great competition.
We’re trying not to look back or at the amount of games already played and we’re focusing on the joy of playing and being here.”
Fatigue is obviously not just an excuse to be used in the event of a disappointing performance. But it’s also clearly a point to be taken into account. Especially at this time of the season and in hot weather. In fact, it’s one of the things coach Luis Enrique is thinking about when it comes to managing his squad. Both in training and in matches.
It also counts in matches with teams who are in America, with a season that runs over the calendar year. So it’s the middle ground, with a different kind of physical freshness. But the Parisians also have the preparation for that. It’s their ambition to win it all, with plenty of games to play. As coach Luis Enrique regularly points out.
So it’s not an excuse, but something to be taken into account. That’s the life of a big club. So much the better if the problems this season revolve around calendar management. There are worse things.
