(Opening in a sarcastic tone, à la Ricky Gervais) Oh, great. Another interview with a footballer, because what the world really needs is to hear what a 28-year-old millionaire with a bad haircut has to say about his team’s chances. (chuckles)

But, folks, this one’s worth listening to. Fabián Ruiz, the charming Spanish midfielder of Paris Saint-Germain, has some rather interesting insights into the team’s post-Kylian Mbappé era. (in a slightly mocking tone) Yes, I know, the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid has left PSG on the brink of collapse, but Ruiz seems to think they’ll be just fine. (winks)

(in a dry, deadpan tone, à la Jimmy Carr) Ruiz says, “PSG brought in a lot of new, talented players… They help us a lot: not only because of their great footballing qualities, but also because they have brought a lot of new hunger into our team.” Ah, the classic “hunger” cliché. It’s not like they’ve just got a bunch of fresh, young players on big contracts, no, no. They’ve got “hunger.” Like, they’re all going to be like, “Let’s win this one for the team… and for the canteen food!” (rolls his eyes)

Now, I suppose it’s easy to be optimistic when you’ve got a squad as talented as PSG’s, but still, it’s hard not to be a bit skeptical. I mean, 71.5 million euros from player sales and 170 million euros invested in new players? That’s like me saying, “I’ve spent my entire paycheck on lottery tickets, so I’m basically a millionaire now.” (chuckles)

(in a silly, excitable tone, à la Rowan Atkinson) Oh, but it’s all about the young guns, isn’t it? João Neves, 20 years old! Désiré Doué, 19 years old! They’re like the railway timetable of football. “On time, efficient, and ready to depart for Champions League glory!” (in a terrible French accent) Oo la la!

And then there’s the observation that PSG have one of the youngest squads in the league. Ah, age, the great footballing metric. You know what they say: “You can’t win the Champions League with a team of oldies… unless you’re Juventus.” (winks)

(serious for a moment, à la Lee Evans) But, in all seriousness, PSG do have a tough road ahead, especially with their Champions League ambitions on the line against Bayern Munich. As Ruiz himself says, “For us, this game is a final.” No pressure, lads. (deadpan) Just another ordinary game against one of the best teams in Europe. (smirks)

All joking aside, it will be an exciting match, and we’ll see if PSG’s young guns can hold their own against the seasoned pros of Bayern. (smirks mischievously) And if all else fails, they can always blame the referee. It’s what footballers do best, after all. (winks)

As Paris Saint-Germain gears up to face FC Bayern, midfielder Fabián Ruiz expresses confidence in his team’s newfound strength and unity following the high-profile departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.

According to Ruiz, the French club’s summer transfer dealings have injected fresh talent and hunger into the squad, with new signings like João Neves, Désiré Doué, Willian Pacho, and Matvey Safonov integrating seamlessly. “PSG brought in a lot of gifted players who not only possess great footballing qualities but also bring a new level of enthusiasm to our team,” the 28-year-old midfielder explained in an interview.

Ruiz emphasized the team’s collective spirit and work ethic, crediting coach Luis Enrique’s philosophy for fostering an environment where every player feels equally important. “We have a new strength – the way we work together as a team and the spirit that we have within the team. This is a crucial part of our coach’s ideas, and they’re becoming more and more visible.”

With a relatively young squad, PSG is looking to create a new chapter in the club’s history, and Ruiz believes the team is excited to continue growing and achieving greatness. The Spanish midfielder, who won the European Championship title in the summer and eliminated Germany in the quarter-finals, has made 15 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring two goals.

PSG’s summer transfer dealings saw the club earn 71.5 million euros from player sales and invest around 170 million euros in new talent. The likes of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola, and Neves are among the young guns leading the charge, with the French club boasting one of the youngest squads in the Champions League and the second youngest in Ligue 1.

As PSG seeks to overcome the loss of star players Mbappé, Neymar, and Lionel Messi, Ruiz sees an opportunity for the team to thrive with a new sense of unity. With Bayern Munich looming on the horizon, Ruiz acknowledged that the game is a must-win for the French club if they hope to keep their Champions League ambitions alive. “For us, this game is a final. We haven’t achieved the results in the Champions League that we expected from ourselves, so we need to step up against Bayern.” However, Ruiz is under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead, adding, “We know that Bayern will put us under a lot of pressure, and the atmosphere in German stadiums is always spectacular.”