Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi says the French champions proved their European pedigree with their 4-2 victory over Barcelona in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League encounter.
PSG followed their 4-2 victory over Manchester City last week by handing Barcelona their first defeat of the season, further demonstrating their ability to deliver against leading European sides.
Speaking to CBS Sports after the match, Hakimi said PSG were determined to show their quality against the Spanish giants.
“When you play against a team like this, you want to show them that we are the champions and that we aspire to continue winning,” Hakimi said.
“We want to show them that we are also one of the best teams in the world, and perhaps the best right now.”
In an interview with French outlet Foot Mercato, the Moroccan acknowledged the challenge posed by Barcelona but praised PSG’s strength as a team.
“We knew it would be a very difficult match. We were facing one of the best teams in the world, which had not lost yet this season. But our team is amazing,” he said.
Barcelona fought back twice during the encounter, making it a closely contested affair, but Hakimi was pleased with how PSG handled the demands of the match.
“It was a wonderful match for the fans, but we also enjoyed playing,” he explained. “In matches like these, we have to defend and attack at a very high level.”
The defender also made clear that PSG’s ambition for the remainder of the campaign was to retain the Champions League title.
Also Read
“We have a big goal we are striving to achieve this year: to win the Champions League again. Our aim is to keep winning,” he said.
Hakimi credited manager Luis Enrique for maintaining the team’s mentality and ensuring the players remain focused on delivering results.
“The coach makes sure every day that we do not lose the winning mentality. We give our best, and I hope we continue achieving victories,” he added.
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']