Pedro Miguel Pauleta, former striker (2003-2008) and captain of Paris Saint-Germain, was invited by Ici Paris to discuss the current PSG captain: Marquinhos. He was full of praise for the 31-year-old center-back who arrived in Paris in 2013.
Pauleta: “Opponents respect him.”
“The greatest captain in Paris Saint-Germain history. He’s the player with the most appearances and the longest tenure at the club. I admire him for the respect he shows for his team and his opponents. It’s not just that he won the most important title, but it’s his attitude on the pitch. And you can see that people adore him. Opponents respect him.”
It’s well known that Marquinhos is regularly criticized, particularly for his role as captain. It’s a bit surprising to see this criticism continue regularly, especially regarding his defensive qualities, given that he won the Champions League and continues to perform well with an impressive team. He’s given no quarter, and his good work goes unnoticed.
It’s refreshing to see Pauleta highlight the positive contributions Marquinhos made, who may well be one of those players whose qualities are only recognized after he’s gone. There’s also this positive image he projects, a true professional who commands respect on the pitch. Even if some have already seen this as a weakness, as if you have to be ruthless to be a great player.
