Vitinha: We do not fear Lamine Yamal, and a Paris Saint-Germain player deserves the Ballon d'Or

Vitinha, the midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain, spoke about the anticipated match against FC Barcelona, emphasizing that there is no fear of Lamine Yamal. He stressed that his team aims to continue competing at the highest levels, believing that a player from the Parisian club deserves to win the Ballon d'Or.

Vitinha said: "One of the keys to our success is the competition for places in every position, along with the high demands from the coach. It is difficult to stay at the top for a long time, and what we have achieved is extremely challenging. We are now in our fourth year at the top, and Luis Enrique always demands competitiveness from us."

He added: "When the coach doesn't play you, it pushes you to give more and doesn't allow you to stay in your comfort zone; it's hard to maintain this level for a long time."

Regarding the candidates for the award, the Portuguese midfielder explained: "There are many players capable of winning the Ballon d'Or, such as Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Lamine Yamal, but I have said this before, and I believe that the UEFA Champions League is more important. A player from Paris Saint-Germain should win the Ballon d'Or, and it would be fair for the award to go to one of the sons of Paris."

Vitinha spoke about the anticipated battle in midfield, saying: "We are two teams that want to have possession of the ball, and it will be interesting to see who can control the game through ball possession. Both teams press hard when they do not have the ball, so it will be a very competitive match."

He continued: "It's just three points in a long stage of the league, but we know it will be a big match. We are facing one of the best midfields in the world, and I like Pedri and Rodri, but we want to play as well. We'll see how we handle the match and how we cope with the strong pressure that Barcelona exerts."

Paris Saint-Germain player praised his teammate Ousmane Dembélé, saying: "Ousmane is in very good shape, and I am sure he will deliver a great match; he is ready, he is a wonderful leader, and he has proven his ability to shine in important matches, and we hope he does it again tomorrow."

He added: "What Fred offers us is unique, I hope he gives us strong feelings and excitement again tomorrow, he deserves more praise because we know very well what he can deliver."

When asked about how to deal with the threat of Spanish winger, he said: "Fear? No, there is no fear, Lamine is an exceptional player, but we all have to work as a team to limit his danger, alongside Mbappé, I see Lamine Yamal as the best player in the world."

He continued: "He is an amazing player, and it is exciting to play against him, but it is not just about Lamine; Barcelona is a great team with outstanding individual players."

The Portuguese player spoke about his current form, stating: "It's a big match, but it comes too early. I'm having a good period, but it's not just about the goals; we are still in October, and we know how things can change during the season. Clearly, it's a big match against one of the best teams in the world, and we are looking forward to playing it."

He added: "On a personal level, I feel that I have become different; I have come a long way, but there are still things I lack, and that is what the coach tells me. It is a beautiful journey, and I do not know how I can highlight just one aspect of my development. I am still in the process of evolving, and this process is not over yet. I hope it continues this way."