Carlos Soler opens up about his time at PSG! | OneFootball

Carlos Soler, a 29-year-old midfielder from Real Sociedad and Spain (14 caps), opened up in an interview with AS published this Friday. It was an opportunity, in particular, to reflect on his mixed stint at Paris Saint-Germain (2022-2025, including a loan to West Ham for the 2024-2025 season), with difficulties in fully expressing himself and his departure.

Soler "Playing in other leagues, in other locker rooms, has brought me a lot."

Have we found the Soler from Valencia?

No, because the Carlos Soler from Valencia was a younger, less mature, and less experienced player. It is true that at my age, I was already the captain of the team, an important player for several seasons, and I took the leap by going to Paris.

I stayed there for two years, then I went to London, which allowed me to evolve; maybe not in terms of playing time – it’s not what I expected when going to Paris or London – but on all levels: leaving home, being alone with my partner, experiencing different things...

Playing in other leagues, in other locker rooms, has brought me a lot. This version, which I don’t know how to call, "Carlos Soler 3.0," has nothing to do with the first in Valencia. I understand that they are compared in terms of statistics, minutes played, etc., but I sincerely believe that the current version is an improvement.

Soler "It was a big change"

What memories does he have of his early days in Paris?

It was a big change because the situation in Valencia was not ideal. We hadn’t participated in a European competition since Marcelino left, and it had been several years. We reached the Copa del Rey final the season before I left, but it’s true that we were practically out of the race for European places.

We weren’t even fighting for survival; we were mid-table and weren’t playing for anything important, except for that Copa del Rey final, decided on penalties. So we couldn’t win a trophy that could have been exceptional.

Soler "I arrived at a difficult time"

Then this move to Paris...

I arrived at a difficult time because I left at the very end of the summer transfer window. There were many uncertainties, the transfer happened at the last minute, and I arrived when PSG had already played five league matches; they had a well-established starting eleven, so it wasn’t easy.

Then there was the World Cup, all the players were focused, we participated in the World Cup and were eliminated, and in the Champions League and World Cup, we were eliminated in the round of 16. That first year was a bit of an adaptation period, but in football, if there is no time to adapt, at PSG, such a prestigious team that plays for all titles, imagine.

Soler "I hoped things would change"

That season didn’t work out, and the following season, Luis Enrique arrived, and it’s true that I hoped things would change, that the manager would give me – not necessarily trust, because I believe trust must be mutual, you have to trust the coach and the coach must give it back to you, as is the case now – but at least a little more playing time, because I think I deserved it.

Soler "that trust didn’t translate on the field."

Two years to learn.

At PSG, I spent two seasons. The first was an adaptation period where many things were out of my control. I did my best, but I didn’t get the playing time I wanted or hoped for. The second season, with Luis Enrique, a coach who had taken me to the World Cup and had given me confidence before, was frustrating because that trust didn’t translate on the field.

But when you understand your role, you have to accept it. I came from Valencia where I played every game, I was captain and a key player. That wouldn’t be possible at PSG, and it wasn’t. You have to accept this role, be at peace with yourself knowing you give your best in training, without complaining.

That’s what I take away from it: two seasons of progression, titles, and playing time. It’s not that I didn’t play much, but coming from where I came from, it was obviously insufficient. But that’s how it is. It’s football, and that’s in the past. These are experiences I carry with me, and now I’m really enjoying myself here.

And among all the PSG stars, Mbappé.

I appreciate him a lot, and I don’t know if he is the best player in the world, but he is certainly in the top 3. Of all the players I’ve played with, he is one of the best, along with Messi and Neymar. Ultimately, when you play in a club like PSG, the pressure is enormous and you find players of exceptional level.

Soler "Of course, it’s frustrating"

If today’s Carlos Soler could give advice to the one who packed his bags for France, what would it be?

I would perhaps encourage him to be more individualistic,to think more about the team, because I am convinced I can play in almost any position. At Valencia, I started as a winger, then I moved to the center. I played as an attacking midfielder, number 8, number 6, and even as a full-back at PSG under Luis Enrique, without any problem. I don’t regret being that young guy who gives his all in training and who, even if he doesn’t play, continues to train.

Of course, it’s frustrating, because every player wants to play, but he could perhaps show a little more competitive spirit. It’s not selfishness, but in the end, in a club, if you don’t have absolute confidence in yourself, because you don’t play as much as you would like or expected before arriving, the club will exploit you.

Soler "I would tell Carlos to trust himself"

Huge demand.

In the end, I was lucky to have excellent teammates who played a lot, like Vitinha, whose first season was also an adaptation period. He too faced criticism, but over time, he proved to be one of the best in the world. There’s also Fabián, who arrived at the same time as me.

At first, we alternated playing time, but then he started playing more and now he is in the national team, whereas before it was my turn. The competition is fierce, like at Real Madrid or Barcelona, where it is omnipresent.

You can imagine it is just as intense in PSG’s midfield. I would tell Carlos to trust himself, that if what he did at Valencia and in the national team worked back then, it will work at PSG too; to have absolute confidence in himself.

Marcelino wanted him for Villarreal this summer...

They contacted me a few days before my arrival, and then there were unforeseen events in the world of football, in the transfer market, and I finally signed with Real Sociedad, which was really my first choice because I think it’s the ideal environment for me. Thanks to God and hard work, it’s paying off, both personally and collectively.

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