On the eve of the Trophée des champions in Kuwait, Marquinhos set the tone for the Classique. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the PSG captain delivered a clear message to Olympique de Marseille: respect, yes — fear, no.
Despite PSG’s narrow 1–0 defeat in Ligue 1 back in September, the European champions arrive confident and composed for Thursday’s final (19:00 CET), to be played in front of a largely neutral crowd at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.
“We Respect Them, But We’re Not Afraid”
Asked whether Marseille’s league win earlier this season had left a psychological mark, Marquinhos responded without hesitation:
“Marseille never scares me. Fear? No,” the Brazilian defender said.
“We always respect our opponents, whoever they are, but we are not afraid of them. That’s our mindset and our philosophy: always want to win and do what’s necessary on the pitch to win matches.”
The PSG captain then underlined the unpredictability of finals, regardless of form or momentum:
“Every match has its own story. Even if Marseille have been struggling a bit in the league recently, that doesn’t mean anything. We have experience, and especially in a final, anything can happen.”
Luis Enrique: “It’s Not About Revenge”
Shortly after Marquinhos, Luis Enrique echoed that calm, controlled approach. The PSG coach dismissed any talk of revenge following the September defeat:
“When you play a Classique against OM — and especially a final — it’s not about revenge from the league,” he explained.
“You have to manage emotions, pay attention to details. It’s not revenge, but we know how important this match is for the supporters, the club, and the team.”
Balerdi Fires Back for Marseille
Earlier in the day, OM captain Leonardo Balerdi had expressed confidence on the Marseille side, pointing to their league victory over PSG as a source of belief:
“The first match against Paris gives us a lot of desire,” Balerdi said.
“When we play well, with the right intentions, we know we can beat anyone. Now we have to show it and change the attitude we had against Nantes.”
With statements made and tensions rising, the Trophée des champions is officially underway — and PSG, led by a confident Marquinhos, are sending a clear message: finals are their territory.