For a place in the final!
Following their 2-0 victory over FC Bayern Munich, which secured their place in the semi-finals of the competition, the Rouge et Bleu headed for New York. Their sights are now set on a clash with the Spanish, who sealed their place in the next round by taking pole position in Group H with 2 wins and 1 draw, followed by a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Round of 16 and a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals on Saturday, just hours after the Parisians' win over the Germans. On the menu this Tuesday: a warm-up, keep-ball drills, and various practice sessions under the eyes of the President of the capital club Nasser Al-Khelaïfi along with the French and international press.
"We deserve to be here. It's going to be a tough game, but we know what we want. We'll be fighting to the end to win on Wednesday."
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz took the opportunity to share his satisfaction at reaching the semi-finals with us during the traditional PSG TV pre-match live broadcast: "This competition is an incredible experience. Playing in all these cities in the United States, a fantastic country, is wonderful. It's a unique experience that we're really looking forward to. We know how important this city is here in the USA. We're hoping to play another match in this city, which would mean we're in the final. That would be a dream for all of us." His team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia agrees: "I think we deserve to be here. We're concentrating on the match. We know it's going to be a tough game, but we know what we want. We'll be fighting to the end to win on Wednesday. We're only thinking about this game."
A win that would see the Parisians book their place in the final, and one that midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery and his team-mates are preparing for with determination: 'We're feeling very good, we're in the same frame of mind, with the same concentration as we've had since the start of the season. It's been a long season, but we have to get the job done and carry on like this. A match like the one against Bayern gives everyone a boost. We're all preparing for the match against Real together, in the same way as all the others. We're trying to play them all in the same way. We're ready and we're going to try and do our job to get to the final." This unwavering determination is also evident in the words of the Iberian No8: "We know it's going to be a tough game, like all games against big clubs like Real Madrid. As a Spaniard, I know that a little more! I've played a lot against them and they're always great opponents to play against. We know it's going to be a tough game, but we'll be doing everything we can to reach the final."
"Feeling the support of the fans is very important to us. It motivates us and gives us the strength we need to achieve our goals."
The former Neapolitan concludes with a word to the Paris Saint-Germain fans, who will be out in force at the MetLife Stadium and who will also be able to watch the match at the Seaport Cobblestones Watch Party: "I'd like to thank the fans because they are always behind us, cheering us on. They're incredible and they follow us everywhere. It means a lot to us to feel that support. It motivates us and gives us the strength to achieve our goals. We know they'll be there on Wednesday and that's really important for us. A big thank you for everything they do!"
Les photos de la séance d'entraînement de mardi
Découvrez les plus beaux clichés de la séance de travail du Paris Saint-Germain de ce mardi 8 juillet à la Rutgers University.