European Champions Bitshiabu and Zaire-Emery on cloud nine!

News

Recently crowned European U17 champions, the two young Paris Saint-Germain youth academy players conveyed their pride to the club's media.

The defender and the midfielder were very active during the whole U17 Euro in Israel, and they both shone during their run to glory in this competition. The perfect opportunity for our young stars to clinch France's third win in the competition!

"This competition was great for me. We arrived with a bit of apprehension about the tournament, because it was our very first European championship, but in the end everything went well, right from the first matches. We showed our quality, and it was really a great experience. For my first European Championship, I was able to go all the way, it was really great," said El Chadaille Bitshiabu, who had the honour of wearing the captain's armband during the first match.

Warren Zaire-Emery, hisΒ  Parisian clubmate, was on the same page: "It went very well. We were able to form a tight-knit group quickly with everyone and win the Euro. I'm obviously happy and very proud, especially as I'm only 16. It was really a great adventure."

After Odsonne Edouard, Jonathan IkonΓ©, Lorenzo Callegari, Alec Georgen and Mamadou DoucourΓ©, who were also earned U17 Euro gold while playing for Les Rouge et Bleu, our two young guns have played the role of leading ambassadors for the Parisian team! It is also a source of pride to have been able to experience the adventure together.

"Going with Warren was great, because I was with one of my teammates in everyday life, we were able to hang out and have a laugh. Even though there was a very good understanding with all the others too, it was really a great experience that we could have together," said El Chadaille, before Warren confirmed: "Bitshiabu is still with the U18s, he plays above us, so he's an example for the squad. It was really good to share this adventure with him."

And in the capital too, their success has obviously made the Parisian ranks proud.

"I stayed in touch with the players, and players like Diallo, Dina Ebimbe, Xavi, Michut, or Kurzawa wrote to me. We also had Kimpembe on the phone and Kylian on video. Before leaving, I told him that I was going to the Euro to win it, and he told me he wanted to see me come back with the trophy. So of course I was proud to call him to share this moment with him. I'm happy to make my team-mates in Paris and my family proud," El Chadaille told us, with a new title under his belt.

So what do our future stars want next? "It makes you proud to represent Paris Saint-Germain in a competition like this. And this is only the beginning - I hope I will have many more adventures in my career. Next season, I will show every day in training that I want to get more playing time. I know that I will have to work hard, but it will happen," announced El Chadaille, who is now set to jet off on holiday.

Meanwhile for Zaire Emery, who still has a week of training at the youth academy, the desire is clear: to continue to be make progress and play with the higher age groups. With two goals scored during the tournament, the midfielder showed that he is not afraid to make his mark on matches.

"I'm happy with the difference in age group. I act as if I were their age, and I have integrated well with everyone, be it with France or with Paris. I'm also lucky because it means that next year I might be able to playing in another major competition, with the U17s! And now, the objective is to keep winning. Because when you start, you want more. You always want to go higher. We'll have to work hard and give everything we've got on the pitch like I do every day. With Paris, I still have a week of training left and then I'm on holiday," concluded the young Warren, who will definitely be one to watch when the new season begins.