Marquinhos: 'We will be counting on our supporters against Marseille'
Before Matchday 32 of Ligue 1 between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille, Les Rouge et Bleu's captain spoke to PSGTV. Highlights.
Marqui, we saw the team produce some great football against Lorient and Clermont. Was it important to bounce back and fully throw yourselves into the final sprint of the season?
Yes, you need to digest it. The best way to do so is to put in performance after performance like we have. We still have an objective to achieve, that's to go and secure our 10th league title. It's something that is very, very important for us, we can't forget that. It's important to win titles here in France, to always be at the highest level. That's why you need to put real importance on the league. This 10th title would be historic. We have our big rivals in 2nd place. It would be really special if we are crowned champions.
You spoke about Marseille and this Sunday, it's Le Classique! What do you make of this encounter?
It's a match unlike any other. It's really not like any other match, especially now. Against second in the league, and in this situation, we want to show that we want to win. They will want to win too. Of course, it's always a special match for us, for the supporters, for the city of Paris, especially here at home. I hope that it will be a great spectacle in the stands. We are counting on our supporters. On the pitch, we will give our all because we know how important it is. And then we need to look to extend the gap between us and Marseille in order to consolidate our spot in first place.
"Marqui and Paris, they are really linked for life"
As captain, do you feel that you have a role to play among the players that have arrived this season, in order to explain to them the rivalry that exists with Marseille?
Yes, the role of a captain is to remind them and to show them how important this match is. For the players that know the importance of this match, it's good to explain it and to show in training the importance that we place on this match. That we will need to be focused on the details, because I think that it will be very important.
We get the feeling that between you and Paris, it really is a love story...
I have been here for almost 10 years. My three children have been born here and with my wife, we have built our life here, we have been through nearly everything in Paris. Marqui and Paris, they are really linked for life, with everything that we have done together in nearly ten years. I think and hope that it will continue for longer.