PSG: Pauleta backs Vitinha and has faith in Gonçalo Ramos | OneFootball

Pedro Miguel Pauleta, former striker for Paris Saint-Germain (2003-2008) and once the record holder for the number of goals, was on RMC Sport's microphone this Wednesday evening. He was invited to give his perspective on the current events of the Parisian club and its players, including Vitinha (25-year-old midfielder) and Gonçalo Ramos (24-year-old striker). The first shines while the second struggles to establish himself.

Pauleta "The quality is there and moreover they are simple, with a huge desire to do something important."

A word on the victory against Bayer Leverkusen?

When you play in this way, with all the quality and all those goals, it's a delight for us who love the club and for French football. It's so important today to have a club like PSG.

Are the Portuguese players at PSG XXL?

We are lucky to have these 4 fantastic players in the national team and at PSG. It's a pleasure to see players of this quality. They are young players with enormous qualities and they are good guys. They are simple people who want to do something.

Their simplicity is enormous. I had the chance to know them very young. The quality is there and moreover they are simple, with a huge desire to do something important. It's a delight to see them. Vitinha is in tremendous form.

Pauleta "He reminds me of Iniesta."

Vitinha has transformed over the past 2 years, is he the best midfielder in the world today?

Yes, I believe so. There's also Pedri who is at an enormous level. He reminds me of Iniesta. He doesn't lose the ball, he's always well-positioned. When he has the ball, he knows how to do everything. There are no mistakes. He is confident, he feels the confidence of the team and the coach. He's an enormous player, for sure.

João Neves forms a beautiful trio with Nuno Mendes and Vitinha. Nuno Mendes is also impressive. Where do their technical qualities come from? While in France, this quality is somewhat neglected.

It's true that his technique is not normal for a defender. In Portugal, we are lucky to have at least 3 big clubs that work very well in training. We don't have many players, but many have great qualities. Vitinha, Neves, Mendes are exceptional players. We are lucky in Portugal to have many players of enormous quality. It's a delight for all of us, in Portugal and at PSG.

You didn't mention Gonçalo Ramos, he is not a starter but he has contributed a lot. It's not easy to find a player with his qualities. Every time he comes on, he scores. It's not easy being a substitute. He could play anywhere. It's important for a great team to have players like that.

Pauleta "He might be a player in the future who will be indisputable."

What does Ramos need to impose himself more at PSG?

It's not easy with the way PSG plays, there are 3 forwards moving everywhere. He is more of a number 9, in the center. It's not really his style. When he comes on, he scores very often. He is also a young player. It will happen for him, he might be a player in the future who will be indisputable. He waits for his opportunities and takes advantage of his minutes to help the team. He's a true striker, even if that's a bit lost today. He might be one of the last in this style.

Will the traditional number 9 disappear?

It might come back. But when you see big clubs playing without a true 9. There are still a few, but many don't use it. Before, players on the sides were there to make crosses.

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