
Having arrived at PSG during the summer of 2022, Vitinha has experienced two versions of the club from the capital. The Portuguese international did not hesitate to take a dig at some of his former teammates.
Since Luis Enrique's arrival at PSG during the summer of 2023, the club from the capital has changed its philosophy. In its recruiting, it no longer targets international stars but rather young, promising players who can blend into a collective.
When there were still stars, some did not defend, and that exposed the other players. Under the orders of the Spanish coach, everyone defends to destabilize the opposing team and prevent the opponents from quickly advancing toward the Parisian penalty area.
We could see it last season, notably in the widely circulated image of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sprinting to come defend during the Champions League final while PSG was already winning 4-0 against Inter Milan, or in Ousmane Dembele's pressing on opposing goalkeepers.
In an interview given to the Portuguese channel Canal 11 as part of a two-part documentary dedicated to him, Vitinha made a small dig at some of his former teammates, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi, not to name them, who were not necessarily beneficial to PSG.
"You cannot afford to have one, two, or three players who do not run. They are among the best in history, but that is not always what is best for the team. That is what makes the difference with the current PSG. The attackers mark the fullbacks like crazy. You see Dembele and Goncalo, who press at the edge of the penalty area and are the first to press in the opponent's half."
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