Kylian Mbappe
Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe said Paris Saint-Germain will be on the guard against a rejuvenated Manchester United when they take on the English giants in their last-16 tie of the Champions League.
“I think Manchester United is always a top side,” Mbappe said yesterday on day one of their winter training camp in Doha.
“It’s not easy to play any team in the Champions League, we are going to do our best,” added Mbappe, who was one of the stars of the World Cup winning French squad in Russia last year.
PSG and United meet first in Manchester on February 12, with the second leg taking place in the French capital on March 6.
United beat another Champions League side Tottenham at the weekend to record their six successive victory under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a run of results that has made PSG sit up and take notice.
“I think after the departure of Jose Mourinho Manchester United has a new energy,” PSG’s Uruguayan star Cavani said yesterday. “They have started to win matches and have more continuity,” he added.
When the draw was made, many made PSG clear favourites to win the tie with an uninspired United well off-the-pace in the Premier League title race.
But they are a team transformed since Solskjaer replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, with a revival capped off by this weekend’s impressive victory away at Spurs that has them closing in on the European spots after falling way behind.
Meanwhile PSG’s veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said the French champions are “improving and we are looking to do well in the Champions League.” The Italian international said Spanish clubs are favourities to win the Champions League.
“Clubs from Spain have a big chance in the Champions League. They have the firepower, strong team and big players. Our (PSG) players are also have good quality but I think they are the favourite ones,” Buffon said yesterday.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said his team was looking forward to make the best use of the top notch facilities at the Aspire Academy and the prefect weather in doha “We’re going to have five training sessions on excellent pitches in a nice temperature and in a calm atmosphere,” the German said.
“It’s perfect given the number of matches that will come thick and fast when we get back,” added Tuchel.
The players echoed their coaches’ thoughts. “We want to achieve the goals we have set ourselves,” Thiago Silva said.
“So we need to prepare well, notably during this week in Qatar. We’ll have to return with a lot of motivation in order to string together wins.”
“This training camp is important for us, because we returned to competition after just two days’ training,” explained Julian Draxler.
“The first games of the year were not easy, and we now have a week to prepare ourselves for the rest of the season,” he added.
