PARIS (France): Brazilian centre-back Thiago Silva’s eight-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain likely to end as the Qatar-owned club eye Champions League glory.
This seson PSG are through to a first quarterfinal since 2016 and face Atalanta in Lisbon on Wednesday.
“I have seen everything here. This competition is so important, for the players but also for the club. Winning it was the objective when I came here,” Silva, whose contract is about to expire, told AFP.
The game will be held as a one-off tie behind closed doors after UEFA were forced to rethink the tournament format due to the coronavirus pandemic.
PSG secured qualification just before football ground to a halt in mid-March, as they overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
“The game there (in Dortmund) was very difficult, we lost and thoughts went back to what happened last year against Manchester United, and our three consecutive eliminations before the quarters,” Silva said.
“That was difficult to stomach but we knew what we wanted to do, to turn it around and qualify for the fans even though they weren’t in the stadium.”
Silva joined from AC Milan in 2012. He has been a cornerstone ever since in a side that has completely dominated French football, winning seven of the last eight Ligue 1 titles.
Last weekend Silva played as PSG beat Lyon on penalties to win the League Cup and secure a fourth domestic treble in six seasons. But European success has not come so easily.
“It’s not easy to stay in Paris for eight years. I am really happy with everything I have done here, how the supporters have come to respect me. It’s magnificent,” he said. “I hope to end the adventure by winning the Champions League, that’s the dream.”
Edinson Cavani, PSG’s all-time record scorer, and Belgian right-back Thomas Meunier were also told they could leave.
