PSG v Slovan – Marquinhos blunt: goals, Enrique and Champions League | OneFootball

On Wednesday, during the Matchday 1 of the 2026-2027 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain will face Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9 p.m., live broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Parisian defender and captain Marquinhos (32) answered several questions at a press conference.

Marquinhos: “We have to be honest with ourselves.”

Having already conceded 8 goals, how do you explain it?

For a defender, conceding goals is something that hurts. We’ve conceded a lot of goals at the start of the season. We know why, we’ve talked about it, and the coach showed us videos. There were collective mistakes that are not at our level. We’re working to improve. It’s the start of the season, there are always a few mistakes that can happen and that we can improve on. We have to be honest with ourselves. The coach is demanding and knows how to tell the truth. We know what we need to improve.

Marquinhos: “He’s not afraid to make strong decisions when necessary.”

Luis Enrique has made some strong choices, like with Dembélé and Digne. Do you think that’s necessary to keep winning?

It’s not just this season. He’s a coach who does what’s needed for his group. He has his own way of doing things, and it’s up to the squad to give everything in training to earn a place. That’s what he wants. We have to give our maximum in every training session, every match, to earn our place. We have a lot of players.

Unfortunately, some have to be left out of the squad. It hurts the group and the players. But the coach has to make decisions, and we understand that. Nobody likes being left out, but that’s football. It’s up to us to do the work and compete. The coach has managed things very well since he arrived, and it has worked. He’s not afraid to make strong decisions when necessary.

Marquinhos: “Sometimes, you lose the feeling a little at the start of the season.”

What have your mistakes been at the start of the season?

I can’t go into too much detail (smile). It’s nothing special. There’s desire, there’s intensity, but our team is not just that. It’s the start of the season, so it’s normal to lose the feeling a little, the counter-pressing, the efforts needed to help when the pressing has been beaten, and also for us in defense when stepping out.

We’ve worked a lot on it, and the coach showed videos. These are details from the start of the season. Sometimes, you lose the feeling a little at the start of the season. But we’re working on those details to rediscover the momentum of recent years.

Who is your favorite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

I hope it’s someone from PSG (smile). We have very good players who have had very good seasons. Am I on the list? (smile). We’ll see. It’s an individual award. I think that, in recent years, the collective has taken precedence. A Paris player who had a complete season—I hope it will be someone from PSG.

Marquinhos: “It’s true that the real competition starts after that, but it’s important to be well placed.”

What makes you think you can win a 3rd Champions League?

It would be historic. Winning one Champions League is very difficult. Two is historic. Winning three is extremely difficult. Very few teams have done it. I value that. It’s a question of ambition, motivation, and philosophy. We have to know that what we did is in the past. If we want to win again, we have to be demanding. We’ve seen that the other teams have strengthened themselves. It will be even harder. But we’re going to fight from the very first match to go far.

You have always won after coming through the playoffs, so is there not too much pressure in the league phase?

The real part of the season, we’ve already seen it with other clubs, is more from January and February onward, when the team really builds momentum. We’ve done that. But if we can start well and get into a good position, we’ll take it. Being consistent is important. It’s very important over a season. We were champions after going through the playoffs, but that’s not what we wanted. We’d rather be better placed. The ambition is to finish higher in the standings. It’s true that the real competition starts after that, but it’s important to be well placed.

Marquinhos: “Today, we have a club and playing philosophy that is very demanding.”

Has the captain’s role changed now that you’re two-time European champions?

Changed? I don’t think so. But it’s very important to keep motivating, to be demanding with yourself and with the team. Today, we have a club and playing philosophy that is very demanding. It’s not easy to come here and play the way we do, in every position. The dressing room has grown. The players are gaining experience. We can see leaders developing.

In three years, players have changed a lot with everything they’ve been through. We had to be strong and solid to achieve our objectives. We have a lot of leaders. It’s up to us to maintain that level of demand with our philosophy of play. That’s how we won, how we made people cry with emotion. That’s how we’re going to fight once again for this competition.

Marquinhos: “He’s a perfect player. We’re all happy to see him here.”

Is Dembélé still indispensable?

He has shown his value. He’s a dressing-room leader, a very important player. The coach knows very well how to manage him so that he can be at his very best. He’s highly motivated, and he shows it in training and every time he comes on. He’s very important because he makes the difference, both on and off the ball. He’s a complete player, a leader. He scores, he provides assists, he brings others into play, he presses. He’s a perfect player. We’re all happy to see him here.

Marquinhos: “It’s difficult to come here and do everything we’ve done.”

What have you done as captain to integrate the new signings? Is the squad stronger than last year?

That’s hard to say. The results will speak louder than a few words at the start of the season. A lot can happen. I’m very happy with the new signings; they are top-level players. They’re going to bring a lot. PSG have worked very well, and you can see the good understanding between the management and the coach. What we do is not easy. The coach is very demanding.

It’s difficult to come here and do everything we’ve done. We’ve been able to build things little by little with Luis Enrique, and a new signing has to take it all in. But the players are adapting more and more. We’re here to help them; we’re a very good group with great momentum. The club is very happy with the signings, with players who can bring exactly what we needed most for the season.

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