Chelsea v PSG – Marquinhos’ key words: belief, defence and Safonov | OneFootball

Marquinhos, 31-year-old central defender and captain of Paris Saint-Germain, stopped in the mixed zone after Paris’ 0-3 victory against Chelsea (video highlights Chelsea/PSG, 8-2 on aggregate, quarter-final to be played against Liverpool or Galatasaray) this Tuesday at Stamford Bridge as part of the Champions League 2025-2026 round of 16 second leg (return leg on March 17). 

Marquinhos: “We are a team that is always hungry.”

A qualification that feels good?

It’s often said that football is very dynamic; we can’t relax after what we’ve won in the past. There are always things to improve, things to go after. You always have to be hungry in football. That’s why we showed again today that we are a team that is always hungry.

That’s how we need to keep going, in this good direction, with this renewed confidence. When you get it back, you have to keep going this way, it’s hard to have it at this level. Important things are coming, so it’s important to stay at this level. The whole team needs to be like this so we can go after great things again.

Marquinhos: “It’s a pleasure to see my team defend like that.”

What pleased you the most tonight?

As a defender, what pleases me most is not conceding goals. We know it’s tough, it takes collective work from the whole team. We did that today. In the first leg, we did well too, but there was still something missing. We struggled on the last line.

Today, I think even when they broke our pressing, we quickly came back to help and create 2-vs-1 situations. We were stronger. That’s what helps us win like this. We have to keep going like this. That’s how we won last year, by being competitive, and it’s a pleasure to see my team defend like that.

Marquinhos: “It’s very important to have a goalkeeper who can handle the pressure, win duels, and give that assurance.”

Does Safonov bring serenity?

It’s very important to have a goalkeeper who can handle the pressure, win duels, and give that assurance. Safonov has shown he is a great goalkeeper. That’s how it is at the top level; every team that goes all the way has had a goalkeeper who saves them when needed. They managed to get through a few times and he was very solid. It’s important to have a goalkeeper who reassures like that. We have some great goalkeepers. It’s important, we know that no matter who plays, they’ll be there.

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