Nearly a week after exercising their Round of 16 demons with a win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain defender, Presnel Kimpembe, talked to PSG TV (via Culture PSG) about what the players were thinking heading into and after the match.
The 24-year-old first mentioned how plenty of players on the squad were ready to leave it all out on the pitch.
“We all realized that we had to put our lives tonight on the field,” Kimpembe said. “It is a moment that will remain etched in our hearts and our memories. We want to thank our supporters, it was important for us and especially for them.”
It’s phrases like these that had supporters of the club rolling their eyes since they’ve said something similar in the past, only to end up falling on their faces. However, when they follow through, these comments don’t fall on deaf ears.
After talking about arguably one of Kimpembe’s better performances in the Parisian colors in which he kept Erling Haaland quiet for the return leg. PSG TV brought up one of the low points the France international has experiences with the capital club, surrendering a penalty-kick where it all but sealed the victory for Manchester United in last year’s Round of 16.
“The penalty … It’s frustrating, but that’s how it is, it’s part of life,” Kimpembe said. “It is an experience that will serve me for the future. We learn a lot, especially from mishaps like that.”
Not a lot of players can come back from surrendering a back-breaking penalty in a return leg at home, but Kimpembe learned from last year’s mistakes. The PSG academy graduate made sure if he had another opportunity to help PSG on the big stage, that he’d be sure to deliver, which he did.
“I tell myself that it is by losing that we learn, not by winning. We suffered in the past, so now I hope we will be happy in the future.”
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