Marquinhos: "I'd like to play a PSG - Roma final in Champions League"
He'll return (temporarily, at least) in Italy and should have a lot of memories. While his past is about Roma, his present will be.. in Napoli, where he'll face Ancelotti's team with PSG.
"We're well aware of the game's importance - has told the defender La Gazzetta dello Sport - you only need to see the table. We need to win. It may not be a final, but we need to play like it was one, with the best mentality. It won't be easy, we'll have to play the perfect game. Napoli haven't surprised me, we all knew their qualities and the strength of a team which is now playing with some of the same players for a while. They know each other perfectly. And then, like every Italian team, they're well organized, they play in a simple and offensive way. Who surprised me among the Azzurri? Seeing Allan, a compatriot and starter in Champions League as an opponent, made me happy and I realized how strong he is. He really deserved that call-up with the Brazil national team. As a defender, I also could see closely Mertens and Insigne's qualities, two high level forwards".
About Tuchel's PSG: "The right system to play in? Hard to tell. During some moments we were better off with two midfielders and Neymar as an offensive one. In other games, we felt better playing with other systems. Right now, we play in a better way with three defenders, it also depends on the opponent we're playing against. Tuchel studies the teams we face very well, to make us play in the best possible way. We're evolving. I would have liked to work with Ancelotti, but Tuchel is a coach who has all the required characteristics to work with PSG: he's got a great personality, clear ideas that he gets to the squad. He's a positive person and gives us cheerfulness, confidence and he knows how to be close to the players but also tell us when it's not going well. I like that, we needed it".
It doesn't seem like the best moment for the French side to travel to the San Paolo for such an important game, with the Rabiot et Mbappé lateness, the Verratti issue or the FFP problems. Marquinhos is confident though: "Marco gave the best possible answer with a great game against Lille. He's a boy who knows how to handle the pressure. The rest isn't a problem for us, it regards the management. We're always trying to focus on the pitch. Buffon? Gigi's a legend, him being here already helps us a lot. His experience is useful to the team and the club. He's an inspiration".
About his first return in Italy as an opponent after having played at Roma: "During that year we faced Napoli two times but I couldn't play any of these, because of a suspension and an injury. In the first one, Cavani scored a hat-trick (4-1). We luckily now play together. The situation is a lot different now though, and we can not only count on Cavani but also on Mbappé and Neymar. I always follow Serie A, especially the Roma games. I'm happy to see Italian teams playing important roles in Europe. Ideal to face Roma in the final eights? No: I'd like to play a PSG - Roma final".
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