Valverde wants to defeat PSG

Ernesto Valverde has made clear that Valencia are targeting eliminating Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League.

The French arrive at Mestalla this Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 clash with Los Che as favourites to progress.

For Valverde, though, Valencia hold ambition to show that this does not count for much.

“What we want is to progress to the next round and whilst they look like the favourites, we still want to make the quarter-finals,” he told his pre-match Press conference today.

“We do not want to just compete and look good as we will get beaten. We are here to win and we will be at our best. We will compete to win.

“It is always a good time to play a game of this type, regardless of your form going into it. Now we are going through a good run, we have morale, but such matches are opportunities for us.

“PSG are a great team, with great players and we meet in a competition in which everyone pushes to the maximum.”

Valverde suggested that whilst the results were up and down, the recent triple-header with Real Madrid will serve as a good reference point for his team.

“PSG are closer to Madrid than Barcelona. They are a top team with great players, who do not prioritise defending and who will attack forcefully. We will have possession but it does not mean that we will be in control, they are a dangerous team.

“PSG are looking to be one of the best in Europe, but that does not mean anything. There are 180 minutes and I do not care who is considered the favourite at the beginning. We are here to play and the key will be in the game and we’ll see then who is the favourite.”

Tags Paris Saint-Germain PSG Valverde
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