Vitinha on playing with Messi and Neymar at PSG: “It was tough” | OneFootball

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder analyzed the team's performance during the period he shared the squad with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, and highlighted differences with the current cycle under coach Luis Enrique.

In an interview with Canal 11 of Portugal, the midfielder appreciated the talent of the offensive trio, although he explained that maintaining collective balance was difficult. “It was a privilege to share the locker room with them. They are different players, stars”, he expressed. Nonetheless, he emphasized that modern football demands defensive commitment from the entire team. “You can't afford to have three players who don't run. Today any team organizes well and complicates things for you”, he noted.

In this regard, the midfielder pointed out a difference with the current PSG and highlighted the defensive commitment of the current attackers. “That is the difference with the current PSG. The attackers mark the full-backs like crazy. I see an Ousmane Dembélé or a Gonçalo Ramos pressing at the edge of the area and being the first to go forward”, he explained, comparing the new model of the Parisian team with the one that had three superstars in attack.

Messi, Neymar, Mbappé were questioned by Vitinha

Beyond the criticism, Vitinha also made it clear the respect he feels for the figures he shared the locker room with. The Portuguese midfielder emphasized that playing alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé was a unique experience during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.

The four coincided in the Parisian team during the 2022-2023 seasons, when the club was attempting to conquer the Champions League with one of the most talented front lines in modern football. Although PSG achieved local titles during that period, the project did not achieve the great European objective and over time began a transition towards a more collective model.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.