Recently, Lucas Hernández, a defender of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) who is currently with the French national team preparing for this month’s international break, gave an interview to Camel Live. During the interview, the French international also talked about various topics and situations related to himself.
On the reason for winning numerous honors in his career
"Believe me, I have not the slightest sense of weariness in my heart towards these honors. The purpose of my dedication to football is to constantly enrich my collection of honors. Ever since I was a kid, I have hated losing."
"So I love competition, and this desire for victory has been integrated into my consciousness. Moreover, I am certain that it will never leave my life. At the level of football we are in, what matters is by no means just participating or going through the motions, but winning the final victory. When you go through hardships to reach the final, your goal is never to watch the opponents celebrate on the pitch, but to win that trophy symbolizing glory with your own strength and efforts. Because in the end, only the winners will be remembered, while the losers are often forgotten by time."
On the differences between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain
"From the perspective of final goals, these two great clubs are completely consistent: winning every game and lifting every trophy. However, when I first joined Paris Saint-Germain, I thought the team paid more attention to mid-to-long-term development plans. At that time, the squad was dominated by young players with great potential. After two years of hard work and integration, we proved with excellent results that the choice back then was extremely correct."
"At Bayern Munich, the squad was more experienced; most players had rich game experience and more time playing on the pitch. But even so, their desire for victory was no less than anyone else’s. Although French and German football cultures are not entirely the same, in both Bayern and PSG, the idea of pursuing victory runs through everyone—from the club’s management to the coaching staff, and then to every player."
"Take Coach Luis Enrique, for example. He attaches great importance to rigor and spares no effort to build the most competitive team. His requirements for details are almost harsh, and such requirements are not only reflected in the tactical arrangements on the pitch, but also run through the players’ daily lives and training."
Do you think the current PSG is the strongest team you’ve ever played for?
"This is really a difficult question to answer. I think the Bayern squad that won the Champions League in 2020 was also extremely strong. At that time, the team had 18 outstanding players, each capable of taking charge of their own role. Even when substitute players came on, the overall efficiency of the team was not weakened at all. The teamwork and understanding on the pitch back then were like a well-oiled machine. Similarly, PSG, which won the Champions League in May this year, also has an excellent squad. Every player is highly capable and can play an important role in their respective positions."
"So if I have to compare these two squads, I might lean slightly towards the 2020 Bayern side, because the players of that team were more experienced and had gone through various major occasions during the long season. However, the current PSG is also writing its own legendary story. This young team is full of vitality and potential, and will remain an amazing team for a long time to come, creating more glories in the future."
On the team’s goals this season
"In the Champions League, all opponents now regard us as their key target. This is completely different from the situation we faced in the group stage last season, when we might still have had certain advantages in some games. But now, everyone wants to challenge us as the European champions and is eager to beat us on the pitch to prove their strength."
"So we must bravely face this unprecedented challenge, and since September, the entire team has made full preparations. Whether it is tactical drills or physical training, we have not slackened at all."
"In addition, if France successfully qualifies for the World Cup, the national team will also be labeled as a ‘title favorite’ by the outside world. As a football powerhouse, France has reached the World Cup final for two consecutive times, which is enough to prove our strength. But I just like such high-level challenges—this is the spirit that a professional player should have: set clear goals and then go all out to pursue them."
