Vitinha says it is normal for PSG’s superstars to attract interest from fellow European giants, but is motivated to win more with the French club.
Paris Saint-Germain defended their Champions League title on Saturday night in dramatic fashion, beating Arsenal on penalties in Budapest.
The game finished 1-1 after an Ousmane Dembele penalty cancelled out Kai Havertz’s early opener for the Gunners.
In the shootout PSG’s Nuno Mendes saw his effort saved by David Raya, but Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes both missed the target with their shots, leading to a 4-3 win for the defending champions.
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Luis Enrique’s side is now the dominant force in European football and even the likes of Real Madrid may not be able to get their players if they want them.
Both Vitinha and Joao Neves have been linked with a move to the Spanish giants this year, but the former sounds unfazed and focussed on more success with PSG.
‘It’s normal that big clubs in the world want PSG players because we are at the top now for two years,’ he said on Saturday night. ‘It’s normal that things like that happen and the interest comes.
‘Normally, when you say we are the best it’s not good to say it, but right now, maybe it will not last a lot of time because football is like this, today it’s true, tomorrow it’s a lie. But today we can say we are the best in the world, the best in Europe. It’s normal that things like that come.
‘We take a lot of pleasure in being here to play in this incredible group. We are all very humble, you feel that and you give a little more in the field because of that. Now we just want to celebrate with people of Paris.’
The 26-year-old says the desire is there to push on and try to create more history by claiming a third straight Champions League title with PSG.
In the history of the European Cup and Champions League, only Real Madrid (1956-60 & 2016-18), Bayern Munich (1974-76) and Ajax (1971-73) have managed three titles on the bounce, but PSG will have the chance to join that elite group next season.
‘If you were to ask me now about the third star, it’s far away and there’s the same incredible journey ahead to it,’ he said.
‘It’s about savouring the moment now and congratulating everyone: the staff, chairman, sporting director, the coaches, everyone deserves this win, everyone got stuck in and worked incredibly.
‘The appetite just grows; you want to always win, never stop. I hope Luis Enrique will continue to push us so we can win more and more. But I don’t want to really think about the future right now, I want to savour the moment.’
Real Madrid-linked Neves was quick to take a swipe at Arsenal’s tactics after the narrow win, telling French outlet M6: ‘We deserve it today, because PSG were the only team willing to play.
‘It’s not even the victory in itself that pleases me, but playing with such teammates, this staff, and this management. I love everything here.
‘I’m very happy for the group, for everything we’ve done this season. It was even more difficult because we had to defend our title.
‘There was a lot of fatigue but when you play in the final, you have to forget everything and give it your all.’
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