In an interview shared on Paris Saint-Germain’s official website, Marquinhos expressed the importance of the second half of the season.
“Over the course of a season, you need to be consistent, but it’s true that the serious matches start now.”
This is a good omen for PSG supporters who want the team focused and prepared for a congested run of games leading up to the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund, which begins on February 18.
The Brazil international continued to reflect on the season so far and what’s lies ahead for the club in the interview.
“The season is long and the first half is also important. You have to be ready straight away in the league and the group stages of the Champions League is also very important. We did things well in the first half of the season. But it’s during the second half that the key matches arrive. It’s at these times that you need to be at your best. There have already been lots of teams who have had a bad first half of a season but got back into gear for the important matches, and other teams who have started well and then fallen away to follow”
The comments from Marquinhos are refreshing. The center-back and sometimes defensive midfielder has captained PSG several times this season and there was a report that he’s signed a two-year extension with PSG. Marquinhos is a player with a lot invested into the success of the club and his words should echo loudly throughout the locker room.
There appears to be a much better self-awareness within the squad this season. After the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid, the players realized that the attacking group of Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar Jr. needed to work harder on defense for the 4-4-2 formation to work. In the interview, Marquinhos is essentially saying our season will be judged by how we perform from now until the end of the season.
With a full squad now in training, and PSG scoring goals at an alarming rate, the right state of mind could be the final missing piece of the puzzle for PSG to go on an extended run in the Champions League.
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