Determination and revenge: Vitinha explains PSG's mentality to face Newcastle

The buildup to the crucial encounter between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle was marked by the words of Portuguese midfielder, Vitinha, who joined PSG coach Luis Enrique in the pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated clash at Parc des Princes, valid for matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League 2023-2024.

With a clear focus on the pivotal match, Vitinha emphasized the importance of qualifying for the next phase following this showdown. "We know it's possible to qualify tomorrow, but we'll solely concentrate on the game. The only way to qualify is by winning. We'll put in a great performance to secure the win and progress in the group," expressed the midfielder.

Reflecting on the previous encounter against Newcastle, where PSG suffered a 4-1 defeat in the second matchday, Vitinha contemplated the significance of this match. "We've already talked after the game about how it wasn't a good result, it was a tough game, and tomorrow will also be tough. We always want to win. If that adds a bit of revenge, perhaps it does, but we'll keep it that way ourselves," he noted, hinting at the motivation to overturn the previous result while keeping the primary objective in sight: victory.

However, the Portuguese midfielder stressed the importance of focusing solely on the present. "We talked a lot about it after the first leg; we're not going to talk about it all the time. We played away, they had the advantage. We just want to be focused for tomorrow's match," he affirmed.

Vitinha, with his discourse centered on determination to secure qualification and his focus on the present without being distracted by the previous result, delineated PSG's mindset heading into the showdown against Newcastle, showcasing the team's commitment to emerge victorious in a match that signifies more than just a rematch: the opportunity to progress in European competition.