Mary Earps: "At PSG, every game is important"
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper gave us her thoughts ahead of the club's UEFA Women's Champions League tie with Juventus.
Mary, the competition is starting. How's the squad feeling?
"I'm really looking forward to getting into the new season and the European campaign. I get the impression pre-season has lasted a long time, and we're looking forward to starting competitive games with the Champions League."
What does the Champions League mean to you?
"It's a competition everyone wants to win. It means a lot to players at the highest level. We played it, watch it on TV, and we want to win it. I have played in it several times, and every time it's a great experience. It's the best club competition, everyone wants to win it and that's why there's so much passion around the Champions League. I am really looking forward to getting back into it."
What goals do you have for this season?
"There's pressure in every competition we play in. When you play for a team like Paris Saint-Germain, every game is important. The club has a very clear position: it wants to be the best in the world, on and off the pitch, and that means winning trophies. It's not easy, of course, we have to work, train hard, prepare well and move forward step by step to achieve our long-term goals. But we have a very good team and I hope we can play good football and challenge for every trophy."
How would you sum up pre-season?
"Pre-season is crucial. You have to make sure that you do all the necessary work well, all pull in the same direction, be it players, staff...There's so much more to it than just 11 players on the pitch. Everyone at the club has to be 100% committed. If all those ingredients are brought together, we'll achieve great things."
The draw is taking you to Turin…
"Juventus play really good football. They've got very technical players and have all the characteristics of modern Italian football. They are hungry for victory, and you can see that in the football they play. Of course it'll be a tough game, but we're looking forward to going there."
Do you think the team is ready for this tie?
"We'll always be ready, come what may! We have spent a lot of time together in pre-season, even if it was a little less for some of us because of the Olympic Games. Juventus will be our first official game of the season, and we want to start in the best way possible. But we have a long season ahead of us and we have to keep preparing all together."