Danilo opens up on pride and PSG’s keys to Champions League success

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·17 October 2025

Danilo opens up on pride and PSG’s keys to Champions League success

Danilo Pereira, a 34-year-old defender/midfielder for Al-Ittihad and Portugal, spoke to the media outlet Onze Mondial. He notably reflected on the Champions League victory achieved last May by Paris Saint-Germain. The Portuguese player is especially happy to have seen PSG, his former club (2020-2024), win this trophy. He also mentioned the immense contribution of coach Luis Enrique to the Parisian team.

Danilo "I watched it with great pride."

"Any regrets about leaving PSG before the European glory? No, never. I am happy to have seen PSG win the first Champions League in its history. I am also happy to have seen former teammates happy. Especially the Portuguese players Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Ramos, and João Neves, because I know how complicated it is to join a big club like Paris Saint-Germain from Portugal and do the job as they have done. I watched it with great pride (smile).

Danilo "Luis Enrique's biggest weapon is that."

On Luis Enrique's success PSG had been looking for a season like this for a long time. Luis Enrique did a great job with the players, his staff, and the management. It's important to have this symbiosis. Winning titles doesn't only come from the players or the coach. You need to bring experience around the group. It's crucial to create a family spirit within the team. Currently, Paris is a real team. Everyone is moving together in the same direction. That's what allowed the club to win so many titles. Luis Enrique has a well-established philosophy. He manages to instill in his players that his philosophy is the best. Once that's done, you can beat everyone, win titles, and dominate. When the players are with and behind him, there aren't many teams that can compete. Luis Enrique's biggest weapon is that. On a daily basis, he works so well that it becomes easier to implement things on the field."

It's a bit tiring to always see the media talking about possible "regrets" to former PSG players. As if a career was made of simple choices, without numerous parameters. Danilo left simply because coach Luis Enrique no longer included him in his plans and there was an interesting offer. There's nothing to regret; Portugal didn't seek to absolutely leave this project. He had simply done his time.

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He can rather, as the midfielder does so well, be proud of having contributed to PSG's progress. Danilo fulfilled his role with great professionalism and determination. We can only thank him for his time in the capital. Even though he wasn't always helped by the "collective."

Which had become almost nonexistent in the last seasons before coach Luis Enrique's arrival in 2023. Many points in the game can be mentioned, but the Portuguese international highlights the essential: the Spaniard managed to establish a real group. With solidarity, competition, philosophy, confidence. Essential ingredients for the tactics, which can then make the difference. Here too, Luis Enrique did a remarkable job.

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