This Thursday, August 20, three days before the final of the Champions League, Marco Verratti delivered a press conference from the Paris Saint-Germain players' hotel, via a remote video application. For the Italian, Paris will only be happy if they win the trophy against Bayern Munich on Sunday.
How do you feel after your calf injury?
MARCO VERRATTI. Things are going well. I started slowly with the team. The wound was difficult to digest. We take a lot of hits, it was strange. I will do everything to be in the final. I was available for the semi-final, afterwards it's the coach who makes his decisions.
How do you live this moment apart from reaching the final of the Champions League?
It's an incredible feeling. It was hard before, years gone by. This year, we had an incredible journey. These are the most important 90 minutes of our footballing life and for the history of the club. We have to train well by then and go for the victory.
How do you see Ander Herrera, who started in the last two games?
For us, this is no surprise. He is a very important player who we know well at 31 years old. He has had injuries that have kept him from being 100% this season. He had two incredible games. He's a great boy. He has already won a Europa League. We're happy for him.
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Is the format of this Champions League ideal? What is the pact between the players?
This format is the same for everyone. This does not particularly benefit Paris. There were eight teams at the start and we are not in the final because there is a different format. We deserved our place. We had an incredible match against Leipzig (3-0) which had no chances. It's pretty. Regarding the pact, there isn't really one. We have goals in our heads. We need 25-26 players to go to the end.
Thiago Silva ends eight years at PSG on Sunday in a Champions League final. How do you find him ?
We had incredible moments, but also difficult, together. He is a person with whom I will remain close, even after his visit to Paris. He gave everything for PSG, he was my captain. We had good matches, sometimes suffered together. I'm even happier for him, because he's quiet at the moment. He knows what he wants, to go get this Cup. His future does not occupy him. This is a historic moment for all of us. We don't think of anything other than the final.
What did you think of Bayern's semi-final against Lyon?
We all watched the game together. They are a very strong team in all areas of the game. They deserved to be in the final, even if Lyon had a great run. The first 15 minutes of Lyon are difficult to digest, because Lyon must lead and finally find themselves led. Bayern deserves to be there, they are superior to all their opponents. It will be a great match on Sunday, it's a Champions League final and it's normal that it is against a great team, which has already won the trophy several times.
Does this final devote all the work done for nine years by the club, bought in 2011 by Qatar?
When we work, one day we are rewarded. We lived through difficult times. It's part of a whole process. There is only one winner each year. It's hard to get there. It's nice to be in the final, but you have to win it too. We have 90 minutes left and we don't want to stop there. We do not remember who played the final, but only the winner.
What does Angel Di Maria bring you?
He has always shown that he is an incredible player, who has already won the Champions League. Fideo (Editor's note: vermicelli, his nickname) is very good in Paris, which matters to him. He has everyone's confidence. He knows the coach and the team are behind him. He makes sacrifices for the team, he spends energy to help us in the middle. In important games, he is always present. We are really happy to have him, to have this attack with Mbappé and Neymar in front.