He is a captain that we could sometimes feel a little below his standards at the start of the season.
On the eve of the Parisians' second Champions League match against Maccabi Haifa, in Israel, Marquinhos was present at a press conference on Tuesday alongside Christophe Galtier to respond to journalists.
His adaptation to the new system, the real return to competition of Ramos, his compatriot Neymar or the absence of the Ultras in Haifa, he swept aside all the subjects around the match.
For the past few months, you have been used in a three-man defense.
What does it change for you?
MARQUINHOS.
It's true that normally, we are used to playing with a defensive line of 4. But I also feel very comfortable with 3 defenders and 2 pistons that go with it.
Our team is adapting well, it will take time for everyone to adapt, even for me.
We are all progressing well, with each match, each training session, we take our bearings.
Me, I enjoy it.
It's a real job, because I think we're a very attacking team.
We have to manage to really exploit our strong points and be more secure in our weak points.
The matches show that we are on the right track.
What do you need to work on in your weak times?
All teams have weak and strong points.
We know ours.
We have a lot of experience in national and European competitions.
Each game has its story.
You just have to be ready for all the situations, all the circumstances that high-level matches bring.
We must not lose our serenity in difficult times, work, run together and make the most of our highlights, be decisive in these moments.
This season,
a real association is born with Sergio Ramos
.
Does he make you progress on certain points, and what can you improve in your relationship?
Sure.
I am always looking to evolve, even more alongside great champions.
I saw great defenders pass here and I tried to take a little bit from each one.
Today, I still have the opportunity to rub shoulders with a great champion.
Last season, we didn't play much together but on a daily basis, we saw that he was a huge champion.
Having him by our side is a pleasure.
He is a player who has his qualities, which I appreciate a lot: the rage, the desire he has on the pitch.
I try to inspire myself to evolve, even if I've been there for ten years.
Do you feel Neymar on a mission a few months from the World Cup?
Everyone, not just Neymar.
Today, we are on a mission with PSG.
We have an important match to play tomorrow.
It's an important season, it motivates, it gives energy to work, but we must not already think of the World Cup.
You have to focus on everyday life, train well, eat, recover.
Going there little by little to arrive at the World Cup in good shape.
How did the integration of Vitinha go?
We were all impressed, he quickly adapted to our game, which we put in place.
He is a very intelligent player, very athletic, he perfectly complements what we have and what we lacked in midfield.
With his intelligence, he fills in certain spaces that can be left on the pitch.
Everyone appreciates it.
For us, it's wonderful to have a player who integrates so quickly, who is direct and comfortable, who shows his qualities and his value.
It's not easy to win so quickly, we're happy for him.
The Ultras decided to boycott the game
.
Do you understand their decision and will you miss them?
I don't know the exact reason, so I can't comment.
But the Ultras are an important part of our club, in our daily lives, during our matches.
They made incredible atmospheres outside.
It's a shame they're not here.
We will still have people with us there, a fan club that will be present.
We have to get the three points in all conditions.
When we have seasons with so many games, how is it possible to know all the teams we face?
We take game after game.
Our coach is doing a very good job in the preparation, to show us all that.
You don't need to know all the teams, but their strengths, those to exploit, to avoid, how to press, how to play, how to find spaces.
That's what we did on the few days of preparation we had, and I hope it will work out well for us.