Mbappé, Messi and PSG: Bernat pulls no punches | OneFootball

Juan Bernat, a 32-year-old left-back who notably played for Bayern Munich (2014-2018) and Paris Saint-Germain (2018-2025 with two loans to Benfica and Villarreal in the last two years), shared his thoughts with the media outlet AS. The Spaniard, without a club since last summer due to recurring physical issues, reflected on his Parisian adventure. He also discussed Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and the evolution of PSG under coach Luis Enrique.

Bernat: "His mindset is entirely focused on the team, without any ego."

Mbappé?

Mbappé is a world-class player. I don't know how far he can go. I watched him train daily for five years in Paris and I know how hungry he is for victory. His mindset is entirely focused on the team, without any ego.

He arrived at Real Madrid at the ideal age, with the energy needed to fully express his potential and the required maturity. He is going to mark an era at Real Madrid.

Bernat: "The ambition of the Parisian project is incredible."

PSG?

PSG has experienced rapid growth. When I arrived, it perhaps didn't have the structure of Bayern Munich, but few clubs in the world can afford that. The ambition of the Parisian project is incredible. And its trajectory speaks for itself, as in 2025, it was the best club in Europe and the world.

Bernat: "Without hesitation, I would say Messi"

What was it like entering a locker room where there were stars everywhere you looked?

It was a true honor, honestly. A footballer can't dream of anything better, because sharing daily life with players of this caliber helps you improve. Every training session was an incredible experience.

And not just because I had Messi, Mbappé, or Neymar as teammates. Being able to work with Marco Verratti, for example, was a privilege: what exceptional footballers!

In several years, if someone asked you to name just one player with whom you shared a locker room, who do you think you would name?

I imagine Messi. Considering everything he has accomplished and what he represents for football. For me, he is the best in history, at least in the history I've seen. Without hesitation, I would say Messi, given everything he has done and especially because he has dominated football for so long.

Bernat: "A solid team, composed of eleven players capable of defending."

What has Luis Enrique changed at PSG?

He has brought balance. I was so happy for everyone at the club when they won the European Cup. In football, it's not enough to have great players, even though we certainly had them in my time and still do today. A bit of luck in key moments counts, as does having a solid team, composed of eleven players capable of defending.

Bernat: "We came close to the European champions title."

And with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé, the dirty work fell to the other eight...

Everyone knows that their strength is obviously not defense. But, on the other hand, we knew we had three players in attack capable of turning a match at any moment. We came close to the European champions title.

We lost the final against a formidable Bayern Munich, coached by Flick, another fantastic coach, as he proves at Barcelona. But with Luis Enrique, PSG managed to adapt and become a very balanced team.

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