Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi is happy on the prospect of dealing with former team-mate Lionel Messi on the Membership World Cup however warned “on the sphere, there aren’t any pals”.
PSG arrange a last-16 assembly with Messi’s Inter Miami yesterday with targets from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Hakimi seeing them to a 2-0 win in opposition to the Seattle Sounders.
Miami superior by way of a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras.
Prochain rendez-vous : l’Inter Miami en huitièmes de finale ! 👊
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Atlanta prepared for reunion get together
It means there will likely be reunions aplenty in Atlanta on Sunday. Messi will get to see a number of of the PSG gamers he shared a dressing room with throughout a largely sad two-year spell on the Parc des Princes whereas the Argentine, as well as Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano, will come up against Luis Enrique, who managed them at Barcelona.
It guarantees to be an emotional event however Hakimi, talking earlier than the fixture was confirmed, insists there will likely be no outdated buddies act.
He advised Le Parisien: “It might be good to satisfy Messi once more. There have been many stunning moments.
“We’ll see who we play in opposition to however then, on the sphere, there aren’t any pals. He’ll attempt to win and we may also attempt to win. We’ll give the whole lot to attempt to cross to the subsequent spherical.”
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma can also be trying ahead to seeing Messi.
The Italian mentioned: “It’s incredible for us, it’s incredible for me. I lived two years with him, it was a two incredible years the place we performed with the best participant on this planet.
“However now I hope we’ll win as a result of he has already received many titles.”
Gamers are drained – Vitinha
PSG weren’t at their sparking finest in opposition to Seattle and Portugal midfielder Vitinha admitted the gamers had been drained after a protracted season.
“Sure, we really feel the fatigue that’s there,” he mentioned. “I feel it reveals.
“That is the case for us, however for the opposite groups too. If we’re not good, we won’t disguise behind fatigue and the quantity of video games. But it surely’s true, it exists.
“It’s important to get better properly to be prepared for the subsequent one since you need to go till the top of the competitors. We concentrate on the subsequent sport.”
PSG centered on the current – Vitinha
PSG’s shock defeat to Botafogo of their earlier outing meant Luis Enrique’s plan to relaxation a number of gamers needed to be shelved to make sure qualification with Donnarumma, Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Kvaratskhelia and Need Doué beginning every of the group video games inside eight days.
However Vitinha insists the top purpose stays the identical; so as to add the Membership World Cup to their Champions League crown.
He added: “It’s a terrific alternative to play a Membership World Cup. Because the coach advised us, we don’t know when this chance will reappear.
“Many issues can occur, you must make the most of the current as a result of it’s a nice competitors. We strive to not look again on the quantity of video games already performed and we concentrate on the enjoyment of enjoying and being right here.”
