Herrera claims PSG have an ‘incredible’ record for such a young club
Ander Herrera has defended Paris Saint-Germain’s record in the Champions League, questioning the demands from everyone in football that anything other than European glory would be a failure for the club.
In an extensive interview with Spanish sports newspaper Marca, the former Manchester United midfielder spoke about playing behind the terrifying – on paper, at least – trident of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and new recruit Lionel Messi.
“Kylian is the best in the world with spaces,” Herrera said.
“Ney is the best in fantasy, imagination, in making a move that nobody expects; and Messi is the best in everything else: in understanding the game, in knowing when to play long and when short; in knowing what is playing at all times. Leo could be the best right back; the best left back … everything except goalkeeper.”
It is signings like these that have intensified the expectation on the French club to lift football’s most prestigious club trophy. But Herrera believes this exceptionally high standards are not applied to clubs in the same elite bracket of European football, and that reaching a semi-final and a final is an ‘incredible achievement.’
“I do not understand that other big teams are not required the Champions League like people demand of PSG,” he told Marca.
“I think that playing a final and a semi-final in a row is an incredible achievement for a club as young as this one, and I don’t understand that this is seen as a failure.
“It is incredible that nobody asks Madrid, Chelsea, Barca, City, Juve… The Champions is an obligation to us. I think it is disproportionate.”
The French champions got off to a less than ideal start in the Champions League this season, drawing 1-1 with Club Brugge thanks to a goal from Herrera himself, despite starting in Belgium with the aforementioned attacking trio.
