PSG v Atalanta – Marquinhos on history, Chevalier, Barcola and competition | OneFootball

Wednesday, on the 1st matchday of the 2025-2026 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain will face Atalanta at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Parisian defender and captain Marquinhos (31 years old) answered several questions in a press conference.

Marquinhos: “That’s the beauty of our group.”

Excitement or serenity as European champions?

I think there’s more experience now. We went through some great things last season, but the Champions League is the Champions League. There’s always a lot of passion. You have to feel things out, sometimes calm the group, sometimes excite them. But all the players have the experience from last season.

Everyone manages it in their own way, with calm or excitement. That’s the beauty of our group. It’s a very beautiful season starting in the Champions League, against a very good team. There will be a few of those (smiles). Every season and every match has its own story. We’ll be ready.

Marquinhos: “No matter who is on the pitch, the fans will always be proud because the players give 100%.”

Last year you said no team would be hungrier than you—will that still be the case?

Always. That’s the philosophy at PSG today. I think that’s why the fans are happy to see us on the pitch. The coach really demands that—if a player isn’t giving it their all, then he’ll go to the bench. That’s football, which is more and more physical and dynamic. In the end, the champion is decided by details.

We’ve found our philosophy, the coach brought us that. No matter who is on the pitch, the fans will always be proud because the players give 100%.

Marquinhos: “He can reach the highest level.”

How do you judge Lucas Chevalier’s adaptation? Is there pressure or does it slide off him?

The adaptation was quick, he already speaks French very well (laughs). It’s not easy to arrive in a team like this, after a goalkeeper who had a great season. He has a great personality, we already knew him since we played against him. We saw his potential. He can reach the highest level. The management and staff saw it too. He didn’t have a choice to adapt, the Supercup came right away, he was decisive. He shows his qualities in every match.

Afterwards, every player has their qualities, every position. He has a different profile from Gigio Donnarumma, he’ll bring us great things. I hope he’ll be decisive, he has all the potential and qualities for it. He takes responsibility. He’s ready for tomorrow.

Marquinhos: “Tomorrow’s match could be decisive. We are very focused.”

What did you learn from last year’s difficulties?

They say you don’t know how you start, you know how you finish. Even if we prefer to start well. The journey was tough, we finished well. But the Champions League is about every goal, every detail. Tomorrow’s match could be decisive for qualification. We really want to have a good match tomorrow, at home.

We had a few slip-ups at home, but we need good results. It’s hard to get points away. At home, we had more possession and chances. It’s a different moment, but tomorrow’s match could be decisive. We are very focused.

Marquinhos: “We’re going to fight every match and we want to move forward.”

Winning the Champions League twice in a row—how do you believe in it?

It’s ambition, hunger. That’s the wish. We have to keep working, keep moving forward. It’s a goal that motivates us. Winning another Champions League here motivates me, the coach motivates us, the president too. Once you’ve tasted it, you want even less to be eliminated. It’s a very different feeling. You’re not tired after great victories (smiles). This motivation will help us improve.

We have a very young team, some are 19-20 years old. They can’t just settle. Even me, at 31. I always want to win more, give my best on the pitch. The goal is there, we have to go step by step. We’re going to fight every match and we want to move forward.

Marquinhos: “No one has a guaranteed place. If I’m still here, it’s because I fought for it.”

How do you see the competition from Zabarnyi? Will you stay several more seasons at PSG?

Zaba arrived, but there has always been competition. No one has a guaranteed place. If I’m still here, it’s because I fought at every training session, every day. It’s not a gift. Competition is a motivation. It pushes you out of your comfort zone.

He’s a very good defender, very young, he can still grow and improve. I’ll always help him when he needs it. As for the number of matches to play, that’s a question for the coach. There will be important management during the season, so he wanted this player to fill a gap he thought he had.

I’m happy to be around great players. My mother always taught me that you don’t trade a friend for a ball. There’s nothing wrong to do. You have to get what you want, work hard. We’ll do our best for the team and, after that, it’s the coach who decides. I’ll always give my help and my respect.

Marquinhos: “We have to be hungry and look to keep going.”

Relaxed before the Champions League, are you on cloud nine? Is there a breakthrough at the club?

I think it’s normal. When you have a goal, everyone worked for it, when you achieve it, you have pride in your memory and your heart. I think that’s the case for everyone who makes history at their club.

But we have to stay alert. We can’t let up and forget the motivation, the confidence for this season. Maybe there’s a breakthrough, but we’re still pushed to work hard and want more. We made history, that’s good, but we have to be hungry and look to keep going.

Marquinhos: “It’s wonderful to have him as a teammate.”

More responsibilities for Barcola?

It’s always in moments like this that there’s room to take on responsibilities. It’s an honor, we’ve seen him score beautiful goals for the team. But we’re not surprised, we know his qualities. We’ve seen it in training and in matches. He’s always a very decisive player.

Maybe people don’t realize, because other players get the attention, but he’s a decisive, key player. After that, not everything depends on him, we shouldn’t put the pressure of attack on him. The coach works very well, we have a collective, which keeps its strength despite absences.

We’ve seen players score very important goals who weren’t attackers. Bradley is someone exceptional, who is still very young and has great years ahead of him. It’s wonderful to have him as a teammate.

Marquinhos: “It’s a very important match.”

What Atalanta do you expect tomorrow? Is Kvaratskhelia expected?

It’s always better to play with the full squad, that way the coach can choose. We’ll see tomorrow who will be on the pitch. Those present will give their all to get the win.

Atalanta has changed since 2020, there’s a new coach, other players. But the philosophy is a bit the same. Every match has its story, there can be surprises. But that’s the strength of this team, to know how to adapt quickly when things aren’t going well.

We’ll be ready to attack and defend. We’ll want to dominate the match, have a lot of the ball, attack a lot. It’s a very important match. Italian teams are always tough to play. We’ll give our all, no matter who is present or not.

Marquinhos: “We want to win against a great team.”

What surprised you about Atalanta in 2020? What differences tomorrow?

No surprise, we knew it was a very good team. They were in a good moment. It was a very physical team, very tough in duels. They’ve kept that physical strength. We know a bit what can happen, how they played the first matches with the new coach. But things can change and we have to adapt quickly.

But their philosophy is always in place, no matter where and against whom. The match in 2020 was very tough and we managed to score at the very end, it was a beautiful emotion, I hope tomorrow we’ll have that feeling of joy again. We want to win against a great team.

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