Gianluigi Donnarumma, Paris Saint-Germain’s stellar goalkeeper, has made it clear that the recent European champions are eager for further triumphs as they gear up to compete against Brazil’s Botafogo in the Club World Cup.
The French powerhouse kicked off their Group B journey in a spectacular fashion, with a compelling 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Pasadena Rose Bowl last Sunday. This victory signified a flawless start to the tournament for PSG, coming just over two weeks after their commanding 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.
Donnarumma, a gem of Italian football, voiced the team’s determined mindset to secure a fifth trophy this season, highlighting their intention to approach the tournament with the same victorious spirit they exhibited in the Champions League.
According to the goalkeeper, the Club World Cup holds significant importance for the team, and they are resolved to maintain their undivided attention on making it to the final and clinching the trophy. This declaration was made ahead of their Thursday match-up with Botafogo at the Rose Bowl.
Donnarumma further emphasized the team’s collective appetite for victory and the desire for title wins, underlining its importance for their current season and the subsequent one. He shared these sentiments during a training session at the University of California. On the same note, PSG’s Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz expressed the team’s comfortable stance as tournament favourites.
Ruiz asserted that the team perceived the increasing talks about their potential success as a positive sign, and they were not burdened by any pressure. Instead, they were solely focused on their upcoming matches.
Botafogo, PSG’s competitor, made it to the Club World Cup by securing their first Copa Libertadores victory in 2024. The Brazilian team started their campaign on a successful note, with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.
However, PSG’s Portuguese striker, Goncalo Ramos, admitted that Botafogo remained a bit of a mystery for them. He was familiar with their coach but hadn’t watched many of their games due to scheduling differences. Nevertheless, Ramos recognized Botafogo as a strong team and acknowledged that facing a Brazilian team presented a unique challenge.
Following their Thursday match at the Rose Bowl, PSG is set to head north to Seattle for their final group game against the Sounders on Monday.
