Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha addressed reporters in Poissy on Monday ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Barcelona at the Parc des Princes, stating that he feels no fear facing Lamine Yamal and evaluating his own individual form during a strong start to the campaign.
Vitinha Evaluates Individual Form and Squad Competition at Paris Saint-Germain
Speaking to the media ahead of Tuesday’s match, Vitinha described his current performances in positive terms while emphasizing the collective nature of the squad. The Portuguese midfielder noted that personal form cannot be judged solely by goalscoring tallies, particularly from a deeper midfield position. “It’s a good period on an individual level,” Vitinha said. “But you can’t only say that when you score, especially when you’re a midfielder… But I’m in a good moment individually and I hope that will be the case tomorrow.”
🚨🎙️| Vitinha on Lamine Yamal: “Fear of facing Lamine? I wouldn’t say fear. He’s a great player, one of the best in the world. What he’s doing is incredible. He’s special, but tomorrow we’ll be facing a great team, not just Lamine.”🎙️| Vitinha: “We’ll see what the best tactical… pic.twitter.com/gnHXbLJAqo”
The 24-year-old also addressed internal squad competition following questions regarding teammate Joao Neves and his own fifth season in the French capital. Drawing parallels to former manager Unai Emery’s philosophy on competition, Vitinha asserted that the club’s depth keeps players sharp. “We have good players and we recruited even more,” Vitinha said, adding that manager Luis Enrique views multiple players as starters in a healthy environment that pushes the squad to maintain maximum standards.
Tackling the Threat of Lamine Yamal and Barcelona’s Midfield
Addressing questions regarding Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, Vitinha rejected the notion of intimidation. He acknowledged the Spanish teenager’s exceptional ability while arguing that narrowing the tactical focus to a single player overlooks a formidable collective. “No, I wouldn’t talk about fear,” Vitinha said. “He’s a great player, one of the best in the world. What he’s doing right now is incredible, an exceptional player. It’s interesting to play against a player like that. But not just him. I know he’s special, really different, but talking only about Lamine Yamal when talking about Barça is a bit unfair. We’re going to face a great team first, not just Lamine Yamal, with great individualities.”
Vitinha contrasted the fixture with Paris Saint-Germain’s recent encounters, likening the tactical chess match to meetings with Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Analyzing Barcelona’s midfield, he pointed to the tactical challenge of breaking high pressure while maintaining control. “It will be interesting to see who dominates in midfield, who controls the match more,” Vitinha said. “Both teams will put pressure without the ball. And with the ball, both teams want to control.”
Weighing the Ballon d’Or Debate and Ousmane Dembélé’s Leadership
Turning to individual honors, Vitinha weighed in on the Ballon d’Or conversation by arguing that the award should recognize a player from a Paris Saint-Germain side that lifted the Champions League. He acknowledged the stiff competition from rival talents including Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Michael Olise, while reiterating his stance that a Parisian victory would be the fairest outcome.
In the attacking third, Vitinha praised Ousmane Dembélé, pointing out that the French international has established himself as a definitive team leader who consistently delivers in high-stakes matches. “It’s been a long time since he’s been one of the team’s leaders,” Vitinha said. “At least in the big matches, he has always stepped up. What he brings, what he gives in this type of match, is unique. We hope he’ll be there tomorrow to give us chills and great emotions.”
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