PSG v Bayern: Vitinha on respect, belief and the amazing Parc des Princes

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·28 April 2026

PSG v Bayern: Vitinha on respect, belief and the amazing Parc des Princes

Speaking to the club’s official website ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Vitinha, the 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, delivered a highly revealing message. Between respect for the opponent, confidence in the Parc, and collective belief, the Portuguese international paints the picture of a PSG side that knows its strength without arrogance.

Vitinha: “We have seen just how good a team Bayern are”

Finally, we have to ask you about the huge clash against Bayern Munich! As observers, we are delighted to see this meeting between two great teams, in two magnificent stadiums, which promises fantastic atmospheres… “हाँ, we’re delighted too! There are obviously other great football teams around today. We have seen just how good a team Bayern are. I would even say they are the best team in Europe this year, along with us, based on what they do in the game and the results they have achieved. It is going to be an interesting two-legged tie for everyone, but also two very difficult matches. These are the kind of matches you want to play in the Champions League, and I hope we manage to reach the final.”

Vitinha: “On a Champions League night, the atmosphere, which is already superb for other matches, goes to another level”

Can you describe a Champions League match at the Parc des Princes for us? It’s magical! On a Champions League night, the atmosphere, which is already superb for other matches, goes to another level. There is something in the air that makes the atmosphere incredible, that connects the players and the supporters. It is very positive to feel that energy. We do not even have to ask for it, because we know we are going to feel it. It helps us a lot in these home matches. And I am sure it will help us again in the next match.

Vitinha: “I would say that we are all good people”

In your eyes, what makes this Paris team so special this season? I would say that we are all good people, which is something important. It is important to know that once we step off the pitch, everyone is going to give their best, including the substitutes. Everyone knows what they have to do on the pitch; our roles have been clearly defined. We have no doubt about what we need to do individually when we step onto the field. The collective play is working very well. The best compliment I can give this team is that if any player has a problem or is absent, the team still moves forward. Any player will do the same thing, and sometimes even better. We have already proved it several times this year, and we proved it last year too. In the big matches, even if we have one, two or three players missing, we have still played well and, more importantly, we have won.”

Vitinha’s statement says a great deal about Paris’ mindset ahead of this clash. Bayern Munich are acknowledged as a huge opponent, perhaps even as one of Europe’s benchmark teams this season, but the Portuguese midfielder never puts Paris Saint-Germain in a position of inferiority. On the contrary, he frames it as a duel between two teams capable of dominating through their play, intensity, and results.

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His message carries even more weight when he talks about the Parc des Princes, presented as a real emotional driving force on European nights. But the most important point is probably his reading of the squad: in his eyes, Paris move forward because everyone knows their role, accepts the competition, and can step up when needed. That is where the current PSG seem strongest: they no longer rely only on a starting eleven, but on a shared idea.

In this kind of occasion, respect for the opponent can sometimes sound like a verbal precaution. With Vitinha, it sounds more like a sign of maturity. Paris know what Bayern represent, but PSG also know what they have become: a team capable of handling the pressure, the stage, and the demands of a European semi-final.

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