PSG-Real: "We expect a gentleman like him to play a great game", Marquinhos puts pressure on Messi

True to duty, as usual.

Just over 24 hours from the kick-off of the shock against Real Madrid, Tuesday evening in the 1/8th first leg of the Champions League, the essential Marquinhos is already in the starting blocks.

This Monday, the Parisian captain, 27, said he was all smiles at a press conference.

Firm, when he defended the discussed performances of his team since the start of the season, he also showed humor and relaxation at the end of the session before letting his coach answer questions from journalists.

What pleasure or excitement does it give to face a team of Real Madrid fame?

MARQUINHOS.

It's a match against a good opponent that marked the history of this competition and of football.

They are in good condition and confident.

When you're a kid it's a dream to play this kind of game.

Today is a dream.

But I focus more on my team than on my opponent.

My pleasure is to fight with my partners to win this match.

Does the PSG season really start on Tuesday?

(he takes offense) Everything we did before we put it in the trash, right?

No, we've been fighting since the start of the season, we've been fighting every day in training.

We played a lot of matches, some were difficult, some we won at the last moment.

We must not neglect what we have done so far.

It's a very important match tomorrow, decisive.

Cup matches are really different from those played in the league.

But we must not forget what we have done so far, these matches which have allowed us to gain experience, to know our teammates, to see them take their marks and feel more at ease.

We must not forget what we have done before.

Can a qualification against Real convince Kylian Mbappé to continue his adventure in Paris?

Tomorrow's goal is not that, it's to play a good match.

We know that the one we play at home is important.

We will try to score goals and win.

After Kylian, we try to make him as comfortable as possible.

He's not too old, but he's a very strong kid in his head, he knows how to make sense of things.

We see it in his way of doing things, of being on the pitch, of being good with us, Kylian is comfortable.

I hope he will be decisive with us.

How to ensure that the locker room is not disturbed by the expressions of discontent displayed by the supporters?

We players have to know how to manage that.

We are not in the worst situation in the world;

It's true that we lost in the Coupe de France.

But we are first in the league, we are in 1/8th of the Champions League with the possibility of having a good match and getting ready for the second.

Now is not the time to put extra weight on your shoulders.

They have the right to demonstrate, but it's time to be united.

Because when we support us, we see the strength they bring us.

They give us motivation and energy.

Now is not the time to feel pressured.

It's up to us to do our best on the pitch to make them very happy.

The presence of President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi at the day's meeting at the Ooredoo Center.

#PSGRM pic.twitter.com/MON9munKoO

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) February 14, 2022

Why haven't we seen the real Messi yet and what do you expect from him?

May he have a good game!

Me, I hope to see a great player, a player who will be decisive, efficient, who will help the team to win.

We all expect a great man like Messi to play a great game.

We are going to help him to put him in confidence.

It is more and more.

But he had a lot of changes to deal with in his life.

Now he's quiet, getting used to France, Ligue 1, PSG... I hope he's going to have a great game.

How is Neymar, can he play tomorrow?

(he points to Mauricio Pochettino laughing) I let the gentleman next to me answer this good question.

He (Neymar) is good, he is confident.

Even if he has no match in his legs, if we see Ney enter the field tomorrow, he will give 100%.

What are the keys to beating Real Madrid?

(He chuckles) It's also the coach who can answer that... He talked to us, told us things in training, but I keep all his advice in my pocket... (laughs).