While Mauro Icardi and Keylor Navas were the headliners of last summer’s transfer window, Pablo Sarabia’s performance since arriving from Sevilla FC has been a pleasant surprise.
The Spaniard has made 21 total appearances for PSG this season and has scored four goals and recorded five assists. Sarabia’s game-tying goal against Real Madrid was especially memorable as he came up through their youth team.
Sarabia isn’t likely to start over Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar Jr., and Mauro Icardi, but his importance to the team is no less important. He has filled in brilliantly on the wing when injuries to Mbappé and Neymar kept them out of the lineup for weeks and according to his Instagram feed, he appears to genuinely love living in Paris and being part of the team.
With the holiday break here and the team off until January 2 when training will resume, Sarabia sat down with Marca and discussed a number of topics including Mbappé, Neymar, and the UEFA Champions League.
You’re top of Ligue 1, finished first in your Champions League group…What have you made of your first season with PSG so far?
Very, very positive. The team has performed to a high level in all the matches in the league, Coupe de la Ligue and Champions League. Finishing first in the Champions League group was important. The feeling, therefore, is very good. Now we’ll try to maintain this dynamic and this mentality in order to achieve big challenges.
Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria, Sarabia…do you have the best attack in Europe?
Possibly, yes. All the attackers are very good. What stands out for me is the variety and the different options the coach has to play one way or another. This is key to not being predictable and, if you have the quality we have up front, the danger increases exponentially.
PSG have made huge strides with the signings of you, Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Keylor Navas…Do you think you can finally win the Champions League?
We’re going to try to make it PSG’s year in the Champions League, but we’d be getting ahead of ourselves if we thought we’re going to win games before playing them. Right now, the only final we have in this competition is the one with Borussia Dortmund [in the last 16]. We must get through this round, then the next one…This is the way to go to be able to do something big.
What’s it like to play with Mbappé?
He makes it easier. The speed that he has is impressive. He surprises me every time he sets off’ he has incredible potential. I know him now and I know that I can go long [with my passes] because he’s going to get there.
Read the full interview here.
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