Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma warned Wednesday that the newly crowned European champions were “hungry” for more success at the Club World Cup when they prepared to face the Botafogo of Brazil.
The French giants launched their group B campaign on Sunday in impressive style and sweep Atletico Madrid 4-0 aside in the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
The victory meant a seamless entrance to the tournament for PSG, just over two weeks after their 5-0 dribing from Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.
The Italian Donnarumma said that the team was carefully focused on winning a fifth piece of silverwork this season after starting the tournament “in the same way as we finished” the Champions League.
“The Club World Cup is a very important competition for us, we have to remain 100% focused to reach the final and the trophy,” said the goalkeeper reporters prior to Thursday's collision with Botafogo in the Rose Bowl.
“Everyone is hungry for victories, to win titles; it is important for now and for next year,” he added after training at the University of California.
The Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz said that PSG felt comfortable with tournament favorites.
“It's positive if everyone is talking about us, right?” he said.
“For our game, what we do. But we don't feel that pressure, we don't think about that, but rather about the next game.”
PSG's opponents Botafogo reached the club World Cup by winning the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 2024.
The Brazilian side opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
PSG's International Striker Goncalo Ramos from PSG said Botafogo was an unknown quantity.
“I know them a little, I know the coach, but I don't watch many of their matches because they let it play. But they are a good team, it is different for us to play against a team from Brazil,” Ramos said.
After Thursday's game in the Rose Bowl, PSG will travel to the north to Seattle for their last group match against the Sounders on Monday.