(FourFourTwo) – A 1-0 win would be a good result ahead of the rematch, says Thiago Silva to FourFourTwo, when discussing Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal matches against Manchester City in the Champions League.
– City have better public transport than our previous opponent Chelsea. They are in a better position and it will be a much harder fight.
– In theory plays PSG good away from home. They have players who can make a difference, but the first game will lay the foundation for everything. The first game can give us the opportunity to travel to England with the opportunity to proceed with a draw.
He stops and considers its own wording. The Brazilian seems happy with battle plan. He is generous, but speaks with the authority of a captain and a veteran of many key battles on your resume. At the age of 31 years he is still dedicated to their profession, and connects talent with attitude.
Concentration is the key
The last two season PSG knocked out rivals Chelsea. Created from Paris played with great maturity and was clearly strongest over two games.
– We showed good quality – quality of a team that wants to win something big and important. Players’ motivation grows for each round when we compete against big teams. Chelsea is good – it made the promotion our more important as we face a strong opponent.
– Now it’s all about working hard to get the same level of productivity and efficiency as we showed in semi final says Silva.
PSG secured the league title in March with a 9-0 win over bottom team Troyes, beating the club record for most games without a loss (36). Silva believes it will be an advantage when they face stronger team.
– We played a fantastic season – which is different from last season in the way that we then spent a longer time to win league, he said.
– Dene season we started the season very well and fortunately we took care of the opportunity to win the league before the end. It allows us to prepare ourselves to a greater extent for the Champions League. Champions League is PSGs main goal.
Theme and press
It is just after lunchtime at Camp des Loges, PSGs fitness center located in green surroundings at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a 30 minute drive west of Paris and the birthplace of Louis XIV.
It’s a little drizzle outside. David Luiz walking blissfully around the area. Zlatan Ibrahimovic enters, carrying bags of goodies, which probably contains designertøy. They greet everyone warmly on staff and spectators.
The relaxed atmosphere is a little confusing, it’s like a veil. For PSG are under tremendous pressure. Everything at the French club gives the feeling that the Champions League must be won.
Briefly longing for European success – and their fourth consecutive quarterfinal gives Paris team a chance to reach the semifinals for the first time .
Silva, however, a veteran in international football that made suffer greatly after Brazil’s unforgivable 7-1 loss against Germany in the 2014 World Cup (and which is still being ignored by Brazil coach Dunga ) remains unaffected. He has a new spring.
– There’s a first time for everything, there’s a first time for everything, says an amused Silva.
– We are aware of our responsibility . We also know that City are a great team. We must respect them as best we can, but neither PSG or City has reached the semifinals. So, a club will go on.
Mr. Motivator
There are only a small part of the truth. The two games against Manchester City represents a breakthrough moment for PSG: victory over Chelsea was just the beginning.
The quarterfinals will define PSGs season and become the reference point for the club’s Qatari owners. Manager Laurent Blanc, captain Sila and his teammates we all either stand up or fall against City after a season which has been relatively easy up to now.
– Motivation must always be there. But it is clear that our motivation (in the league) will fall slightly as a consequence of that we have already won the league title.
– The motivation our should be in line with our future prospects. PSG will play league cup final, semi-final of the French Cup and the quarterfinals of the Champions League. As the fighting in the French league will be preparations for the decisive battle.
Do not be fooled
At the press conference before the match against Nice, which is third in the league, the manager refused Blanc to recognize that the struggle would be quality full, but despite a somewhat soft treatment of Hatem Ben Arfa in the first place, inspiring a rule lust Zlatan Ibrahimovic PSG to an easy 4-1 victory. Guests unable to do anything with Swede velours ball touch.
PSG lacked Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore because of injuries. It is not lucky for Blanc – but anything Manchester City have experienced in large parts of the season with key players such as Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne, who returned with a fabulous goal against Bournemouth last weekend.
But Silva is not fooled by a possible injury crisis.
– I have an example to disprove this. There are group game match against Real Madrid. Everyone said it was going to be an easy match, because Real Madrid lacked James Rodríguez, Gareth Bale and Benzema because of injuries.
– We played against them at the Parc des Princes and the 0-0 . It was a tough match, because Real Madrid substitutes would show the coach that they are good enough to play.
– The fight is a good example before the match against Manchester City. They have important players who are injured. In theory they will be missing since they possess quality but replacements wants to show the coach that they have the quality needed. There are facts, and it will make the fight difficult.
String agreement
Is it possible that kicks of Manuel Pellegrini affecting settlement? Chile he denies this, but the arrival of Pep Guardiola has guaranteed overshadowed resolution of Pellegrini’s City career.
62-year-old has handled his own eviction with little fuss, but it still caused problems. Since February, Manchester City only won two Premier League matches and are now 15 points behind league leader Leicester.
– It is clear that it was not the right thing to do, says Silva for processing Pellegrini.
– I think highly – it is not an amicable thing to do because you work, knowing that tomorrow you will be finished.
– the must be a difficult situation for Pellegrini. In my opinion the coach is in an interesting position, because if it had been another coach with less ambition and poorer work ethic, he said: “You want me to leave now? I can let you down and go home, because you have practically given me fired. “
– He’s very professional. You should almost congratulate him, because there is not anyone who would have remained and been focused in such a situation.
Blanc is a bridge
In PSG extended Blanc’s contract until February 2018. His time front office has at times been arduous, and ultimately he will be judged on success in Europe – and not the number of domestic titles.
But Blanc has built a solid team around a core of players – Silva in defense, Verratti in midfield and Ibrahimovic arrived. They have developed an understanding and created stability in the team.
– You must retain a foundation in a club that wants to win important things. The foundation has been well preserved in PSG in the last two, three years.
– It is important that the chief architect remains. Blanc has great trainer qualities – we understand each other perfectly. He listens to me and I listen often to him.
– It facilitates our dialogue between player and coach when I’m on the field in important matches. It is important that he extended the contract so that PSG container attacking football. It’s important.
For
PSGs offensive mindset ensures often ballbesittende football: they had 65 percent of the ball at home against Chelsea, 58 percent at Stamford Bridge and 56 percent against Nice. But will it be enough not only to beat City, but to win the Champions League?
– Defending champion Barcelona are always favorites. I also look at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid as favorites, says Silva.
– Bavaria has a distinctive quality; they play a different type of football with a coach that I’m a big fan of. Whenever Bayern Munich player, I try to watch and learn from it, because Guardiola is the best coach in the world – teams he works with will always fight for the titles.
– Real Madrid, because they have one of the best players in recent decades as their manager Zidane. He does well as first-team coach. It’s not easy to train Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Benzema, Sergio Ramos etc. – There are players who are established in Europe, but Zidane plays a big role in the way Real Madrid have acted on after Benitez left.
Silva is a realist, but do not think about defeat, everything that comes is success in the Champions League. For him as captain, it’s about making that PSG really belongs to the ultimate elite in Europe.
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