Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta interviewed with L’Equipe (via Canal Supporters) to discuss various topics.
After crashing out as Genoa CFC manager, the 37-year-old is actively looking to find a bench. Perhaps jumping in during the season to try and save a club from relegation wasn’t the ideal first significant job for Motta. However, he doesn’t see a return to PSG in his future.
“PSG is not a reality since there is a coach in place,” Motta said. “My main idea today is to train and do it well. I want to continue to develop my ideas without looking at the names of the teams.”
The next topic that Motta goes into detail is the departures of two former teammates, Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva. Despite there being sadness surround the exits of these two club legends, the 37-year-old understands that it’s a cycle.
“The end of the cycle took place, in my opinion, when Laurent (Blanc) and Ibra left. There was another with Unai (Emery), and there is one more with the current coach. The departures of Thiago and Cavani are natural things in the life of a club. Others will replace them. The cycle is determined by the club,” Motta said.
“The departure of Cavani without farewell? There is a particular context this season. Cavani will remain the top scorer in the history of PSG. From the outside, it is always difficult to know the decisions. You have to understand and accept a player’s choices and wish him the best for the future.”
Les Parisiens also saw two significant departures from their youth system, Tanguy Kouassi and Adil Aouchiche. Motta coached the two players with the under-19 squad, and the former PSG midfielder admits that he would’ve preferred both signed a professional contract in Paris.
“I would have liked them to sign their first professional contract in Paris because PSG is really their club. They have the qualities to play pro in Paris. Aouchiche, I really like his game, he has something,” Motta said.
“In the middle, he can play in front of the defense; on one side, he has something different from the others, he scores a lot. He has that in him, a good quality of strike, he knows how to be at the right time in the box and he collects a lot of balls. I would have liked to see them in the first team and win there, like Kimpembe.”
Finally, L’Equipe asks what Motta thinks of PSG’s chances of winning the UEFA Champions League.
“They have the same chances as the others. There, the advantage is that they will evolve on neutral ground and that it is in a single match,” Motta said. “PSG fell in the best part of the table. I hope he will be rewarded with a great result.”
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