Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso gave an interview to L'Equipe, where he spoke about the team's return to the Champions League, his feelings about playing in France again, and memories of his time at PSG. He also discussed Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Luis Enrique, and explained why he was unable to establish himself at PSG back then.

Introduction

Lo Celso, returning from injury, is expected to make his first appearance of the season for Real Betis when they face Lille in the first round of the Champions League on Tuesday. This marks Betis's return to the Champions League after 21 years. For the 30-year-old former PSG player, the opportunity to return to France brings undeniable joy. At the Luis del Sol training base, the sky was overcast and the weather had finally cooled down a bit. The day before, Betis had just beaten Real Madrid 1-0. After three hours of training, strength work, and massage, Lo Celso gave an interview discussing Betis and PSG. However, he declined to comment on the off-field scandal involving Argentine players during the World Cup.

After 21 years, Betis has finally returned to the Champions League for the second time in its history. What does this mean to you?

Lo Celso: "It's only the club's second Champions League appearance. After such a long wait, it feels truly extraordinary. You feel joy and pride, as well as enthusiasm and anticipation both from the fans and from the city. Seville is a very passionate city, and people here live for football."

What do you personally feel about playing in the Champions League again?

Lo Celso: "It was a personal goal I wanted to achieve with Betis, because Betis is the only club I've played for that I hadn't represented in the Champions League. (Previously he played in the Champions League for PSG, Tottenham Hotspur, and Villarreal, appearing in 18 matches total.) It won't be easy, but we believe we can compete with any opponent. If we can stay humble and hungry and work hard, why can't we repeat what I achieved with Villarreal? (They reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2022.)"

So what are the specific strengths of this team?

Lo Celso: "We have excellent players with strong technical abilities who can make an impact individually and create moments through teamwork. More importantly, they all love this shirt, which really helps the team. Manuel Pellegrini's experience and composure are also very important, especially during difficult moments."

What do you feel about returning to France?

Lo Celso: "I really enjoyed playing there (from 2016 to 2019 at PSG), and I only have good memories, so I'm very happy. Especially when I've faced Lille in the past, I've always performed quite well. (In February 2018, he scored a stunning goal against Lille.)"

You'll face Olivier Letang again, who brought you to PSG.

Lo Celso: "It will be special. My family and I have very warm memories of Olivier because he treated us incredibly well from day one. At that time, many top European clubs wanted to sign me, but he personally came to my home and convinced us to sign with PSG. For me, it was a dream. I hope I'll have the opportunity to give him a hug then."

What memories do you have of your time at PSG?

Lo Celso: "I won many titles there (2 Ligue 1 titles, 2 French Cups, and 1 League Cup). For me, it was a huge change, and everyone welcomed me incredibly warmly. What's most telling is that 8 years have passed since I left, and I didn't actually play there for very long, yet even now I still maintain contact with the president and some people at the club. PSG really is more like a family than it appears from the outside. Besides the Betis president, Nasser is the only president who has stayed in touch with me after I left the club."

What impressed you most about PSG?

Lo Celso: "It was the strongest team I've ever played for. The training sessions were truly crazy, like a Disney cartoon. I was only 20 years old then, fresh from Rosario Central, and I felt like a kid with a new toy. Watching their training sessions, seeing how they treated young players like me, their willingness to share their experience with us, and that winning mentality—it could take you very far."

Which player impressed you the most?

Lo Celso: "Neymar. It seemed like he played a completely different style of football than the rest of us. Technically, he was definitely a cut above everyone else. Whether in training or in a match, he could dribble past anyone, anytime, and in any way. As a person, he was also a really good guy."

What about Kylian Mbappé?

Lo Celso: "He was very young back then, but we already saw that he was a special player. He was incredibly fast and could disrupt the balance on the pitch. He could strike with both feet, with incredible speed and power, and could always change the course of the game."

Why ultimately weren't you able to truly establish yourself at PSG?

Lo Celso: "The club was going through a transitional period back then. Olivier brought me to Paris, but he left soon after I joined. The sporting director kept changing, the manager kept changing... In my final season, under Unai Emery, I played a lot, and then Thomas Tuchel came, and he had different plans for me."

How do you explain the success PSG is achieving now?

Lo Celso: "Luis Enrique. With him, Paris found its balance. He's a coach who knows exactly what he wants and where the team should go, and he has a very clear philosophy of play. The players are very committed and fully embrace his ideas. He's created a very strong collective, and it's this unified and cohesive team that can really win championships."

Переведено ИИ.

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