Poached from Bayern last summer, the French international takes stock after the victory against Metz (3-1), last match of the year for PSG, Wednesday at the Parc des Princes.
Review of the first part of the PSG season : «After all the changes that the club has made, all the recruitments (11 new players last summer, Editor’s note), objective achieved, that’s what we wanted, to be first in Ligue 1 and to be qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League. (…) We had a good first part of the season. We still have progress to make, keep working. This break (PSG will face Toulouse on January 3 for the Champions Trophy, Editor’s note) will do us good to rest, to recover a little more strength for what awaits us in the second part of the season. It will be decisive for us and the season.»
Areas of progress : «All ! We can always improve. Football is a sport in which you improve every day, every training, every match… Until then (February and Real Sociedad in the round of 16 of the Champions League, Editor’s note), like the coach (Luis Enrique) said it, we will be a better team. We need time but little by little, we understand what the coach is asking of us. We try to show it on the pitch. It’s up to us to continue working because in February, these will be the most decisive matches of the season. It’s up to us to approach them well and be present.»
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I have adapted very well to this club, this city, these supporters.
Lucas Hernandez
Individual with : «Well, very good, I was coming back from a long knee injury but I feel very good, I have adapted very well to this club, this city, these supporters, and I hope we will have a great season.»
The Champions League : «It’s in the head, but there are a lot of matches before the 8th in February (February 14 at the Parc des Princes and March 5 in San Sebastián on the way back, Editor’s note)… It’s up to us to rest well mentally and physically , recover well to attack the matches from January. There will be quite a few matches, a sequence of matches, it’s up to us to be ready and try to arrive as best as possible in this decisive month of February.»
The first place in C1 which escaped PSG : «It was playable… Afterwards, we didn’t have an easy group, we knew that from the start. But it was a goal to qualify. Now we know the team that will be waiting for us in February. It’s up to us to improve every day, every match, to be as ready as possible at that moment.»
His view on the draw for the 8th and Real Sociedad : «It’s a long time… It’s a good team, I know it well. But these are the round of 16 of the Champions League. It would have been Real Madrid, Barcelona, they are all very good teams. It’s up to us to be very focused. Until then, there is time, a lot of matches, and very important matches.»
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I saw everything with Kylian… It’s a phenomenon!
Lucas Hernandez
Kylian Mbappé, author of a double and who celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday : «I saw everything with Kylian… It’s a phenomenon! Glad to celebrate her birthday with him tonight. And this gift of being able to play with his brother at the Parc des Princes… It’s a perfect day for him. I am very happy to be able to be with him by his side for his 25th birthday.»
Ethan Mbappé, who made his professional debut on Wednesday : «He’s a very good player, very young. We see that he wants to improve, to grow in this team. It’s up to him to continue working so that he benefits every time the coach calls on him.»
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