Match: Verratti: We have different ways of defending, we can also defend with the ball ”
Before his coach Mauricio Pochettino, Marco Verratti was in a press conference on Tuesday on the eve of Manchester City / PSG. He spoke of his health, that of the returning Sergio Ramos but also a lot the match, how to hamper the Citizens or the integration of the trio Mbappé / Neymar / Messi in the team.
How do you see the absence of Kevin De Bruyne? And more generally what are the main dangers in your opinion of this Manchester City team, even without him?
No, really, it’s always nice when the other players are on the field. We are not happy if a player is injured or is not on the field. I think it’s a very nice game between two great teams, with a lot of very strong players on the pitch. I think it’s going to be a very nice game for the fans and for those who intend to see the game. Danger against a team like City can come from all sides because they are a team that plays football very well. As we know, we have already played (against them) at the Parc (des Princes, 2-0), it was a very, very nice match. It’s that level of possession, we are sure all together, and we created danger when we had the ball.
I think that’s the key: managing possession well when you have the ball and defending well when you don’t. It’s a high level game and there is not just one danger. Danger can come from anyone because it’s a great team, with great players. And on the other side, it’s the same. We have a lot of different things (editor’s note: at our disposal) to create beautiful things. I hope we can use all of these ingredients to challenge City tomorrow.
How do you feel physically? And what does the first place in the group represent for you?
I feel good. I had received a big blow and now things are better, I no longer feel anything, I feel good. For the first place, it is of course important, it is our objective. Finally our first objective is to qualify in 1/8 and after, if possible, to be first. Tomorrow, we have the opportunity to take first place, we will play our match, try to win, play a great game, be a great team. I don’t think it’s the most important choice but it’s a goal because we always want the best for the team, we always want to do the maximum and the best option is to finish first.
For the first time Sergio Ramos is with you. What has he brought you since his arrival at PSG and what will he be able to bring you more afterwards?
“Sergio Ramos is a player who does not need to be introduced”
Sergio Ramos is a player who does not need to be introduced. He’s been doing really great things with Real Madrid for years. Already when we played against him, he was a difficult player to face. He has a great personality, he understands the game well, he knows what to do, he is dangerous in attack too, he defends well. He is a complete player as he has demonstrated with the career he has made. We are obviously happy that he can find the group, that he can train with us. It’s already really nice to be able to share the week’s training with him. I think when he is in good condition, like he is now, he can help us a lot.
You said earlier that it was important to defend without the ball, that you may play more often without the ball than with the ball against City. Is it difficult to defend players like Messi, Mbappé or Neymar? Are you asking them to answer you?
“It’s not so much that it is difficult to defend Mbappé, Neymar and Messi, but rather that they have a very offensive way of playing”
No, these players have different characteristics. It’s not so much that it’s hard to get them to defend, but rather that they have a very offensive way of playing. After that, that goes for all the teams, it is not specific to one or the other. When you have to defend, you have to defend all together because you know that when you meet teams like (City), who are used to playing with possession of the ball, the more you play as a team, the less there is. danger. Afterwards, we have different ways of defending, we can also defend with the ball: it is a choose that we want to improve more, with a ball as often as possible in the (opposing camp) because it is also a way to defend, to prevent the other team from creating danger. I think you have to think of us.
We know that City are a good team but it’s a good test, it’s a match that can give us a lot of confidence, we are very confident in our team, we know that we can do really well with the ball. After that if we finish at 55% possession for them and 45% for us, but we win 2-0, I’ll be the happiest person in the world. Statistics are numbers, it’s important, but that’s not everything in football.
In the first leg, we saw you inspire the players, take the team out of the pressing. Do you like this role?
It’s kind of my way of playing. It’s better when (the opponents) come to press me, because I can play towards another player who is free. I’ve always seen football like this. Sometimes, it costs me (note: embarrassment) to pass the ball when nobody comes to press me because it is more difficult then to make shifts. But when someone rushes me, it means that there must be another free player. It’s up to us to find these free players. Football is a bit like that, especially in the middle (of the pitch) where we do it well, we have to continue like that. We know that City is a team that comes to press very high and if we play well, with personality, I think we can find spaces.
Do you find that the three forwards – Messi, Mbappé and Neymar – play well together? What is your feeling ?
I think they will continue to look for each other. Sometimes we forget that they haven’t really played a lot of games together, between injuries, the selection and the absences of one of them … I think it will improve, that they will be found even more, that they will create still more dangerous actions. Over time, it will be better. And for us, it’s a pleasure to have the three of them on the pitch, to see them in training. They are incredible players, and I’m sure they will do even better.
There are rumors of links between your manager and Manchester United. Does it shake the locker room? Are you talking to each other?
“We do not think of rumors or things that are said outside”
I’ve been used to this since I started playing football, there have always been rumors. If we still wish outside rumors, we should only that. Usually. We’re here to play a big game tomorrow night. We’re all focused on that. We want to do a good training today to prepare in the best possible way. Tomorrow’s game is our only concern. That’s all. We don’t think about rumors or things being said outside.