Vitinha, the 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder and Portuguese international, shared his pride with O Jogo after PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title. Between history already written and ambition embraced, his words primarily reflect the new level of expectation in Paris.
Vitinha: “We’ve reached a new level”
“Despite the fatigue, I’m truly very happy. What we’ve just accomplished is incredible. I already said that after the first victory, but it’s even more true for the second. It’s still difficult to grasp the magnitude of our achievement; I don’t think we’ve fully realized what we’ve accomplished yet, but it’s simply incredible. I think we clearly made history with the first victory, but now we’ve reached a new level, not only in Paris, but in the world of football, and that makes us extremely happy and proud.”
Vitinha is no longer just talking about a trophy, but about a change in status. This is where his statement matters for PSG: the club is no longer seeking recognition, it’s entering a new era of becoming a benchmark. Two consecutive Champions League titles inevitably shift the perception of the Parisian project.
Vitinha: “I am definitely part of PSG’s history”
“Yes, I don’t think I’m being presumptuous or arrogant in saying yes, because we all contributed to these two victories, and even more so to these two consecutive victories. I am definitely part of PSG’s history and I’m very happy about it. PSG is a huge club, a club that has had many great players throughout its history. To be part of it, to be marked by it, and to have such an important place in the club’s history is a great source of pride.”
What’s most interesting is this lack of false modesty. Vitinha accepts his place, without provocation. For PSG, it’s also a cultural marker: the current players no longer see the club’s history as mere background; they claim it because they have transformed it on the pitch.
Vitinha: “We have a responsibility to defend our second title.”
“A third Champions League title?
Yes, absolutely. I don’t want to think about it too much because for now, I want to enjoy my rest and also focus on the Cup, but yes, of course, we have a responsibility to defend our second title, as we did this year and won.
A place among the best?
In football, everything changes very quickly. What’s true today can be false tomorrow; you can go from one exceptional level to another in the blink of an eye, and vice versa, so I’m not getting my hopes up.
I know that right now I’m at the top, I feel good about it, but I also know that it’s very difficult to continue like this and I know what needs to be done.
I will do everything I can to continue helping the team and the national team, to win titles, to be at our best, both collectively and individually.” I know it’s very difficult, but I’m going to persevere, and I think I’ve succeeded.”
The sentence is short, but it sets the new framework. PSG is no longer expected to be a luxury underdog or a fragile contender: it must defend its dominant position. This responsibility changes everything, because ambition is no longer based on dreams, but on the obligation to endure. The challenge is clear: to remain hungry after winning everything. This is often where great teams part ways with great seasons.
