“You don't talk to me about age”.
An already cult sentence from Kylian Mbappé pronounced a few years ago and taken up this Monday by Vitinha, his Portuguese teammate from PSG.
Present at a press conference on Monday before the reception of Benfica, Tuesday (9 p.m.), the environment does not appreciate that his age (22) is too much related to his performance.
How do you feel in this team and what is your relationship with Marco Verratti?
VITINHA.
I feel good at the start of the season.
I know it's the work that paid off, it's also the support of the staff, of the teammates.
I hope to extend the good period.
With Verratti, the relationship is excellent.
We complete each other despite our similarities.
I still hope to do more and better.
Aren't you worried about your lack of physical impact?
We have already talked about this theme often, before Juventus, before last week.
I don't think we are fragile.
We have the abilities, regardless of our physique.
It's very easy to play with him.
As for Kylian, Ney… It's a pleasure to share and learn with him.
He has many seasons at a very high level.
I try to learn as much as possible.
And, beyond that, he is a very good person.
How best to replace Lionel Messi, absent on Tuesday evening?
As the coach said, you always want the best players on the pitch and Messi is one of them.
We have a team capable of replacing him as well as possible, with quality players.
We will make sure that the absence is not felt.
Your integration is very fast despite your 22 years.
How do you explain it?
I think we need to talk less about the age of the players.
If you show that you are performing, you have to play.
That's what I feel like I've proven.
I believe in my abilities, I work.
I managed to impose myself in Porto and I now play at PSG.
How do you explain the nervousness of your team this weekend?
This is related to the last game.
We had clashes, the exclusion of Sergio Ramos.
It is linked to the personalities of each one.
But I don't think it's related to the pressure from this club.
This was due to frustration with the outcome.
We should not give much importance to this.
What is your view of the three attacking stars of PSG and, in particular, Kylian Mbappé?
As I said before, it's a privilege to play with all these great players.
Kylian is one of them.
It's a phenomenon.
It is a privilege to accompany him in his career.
I'm here to help Kylian and he's here to help us.
What was your team's problem last week in the draw at Benfica?
We played outside, in this Luz stadium.
They played football well, with a good collective, a good dynamic.
It's hard to say what we missed.
We should have scored, prevented Benfica from doing the same.
I expect the same Benfica tomorrow.
We are ready for this challenge, to respond in a better way than last week.