Bixente Lizarazu on Bayern ahead of PSG: ‘The team spirit is fantastic’

Bixente Lizarazu won the Champions League with Bayern in 2001, the World Cup with France in 1998 and is considered one of the most influential left-backs of his generation. Today, he lives in the Basque Country in south-western France and remains closely connected to football, working as a TV pundit and commentator for French national team matches, analysing Champions League and Ligue 1 games, reporting on Paris Saint-Germain and writing regularly for the French sports newspaper L'Équipe. Ahead of the Champions League clash between the German record champions and PSG, the 55-year-old spoke to fcbayern.com about Paris’ strengths, the key factors for Bayern and a player who particularly impresses him.

Interview with Bixente Lizarazu

When you look at the current PSG team, what makes this squad so strong at the moment, and in which areas is there still room for improvement?
Bixente Lizarazu: “Paris played fantastically well in the last six months of last season and were very successful. This season, however, they’ve had a few problems and dropped points in the league. Last season, they put in some really strong performances, but the players expended a lot of energy in the process, which led to injuries. Luis Enrique therefore had to make changes to give some players a break – not only the injured ones, but also other regulars, as the summer pre-season period was shorter. They only had three weeks' holiday and had to play the UEFA Super Cup just one week later. Enrique is trying to manage this as best he can, but he can't call upon all his players.”

With key players such as Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué missing, many youngsters are currently being given a chance at PSG.
“That's Paris Saint-Germain's strategy. The club has decided not to sign any more experienced players. Instead, it’s relying on the existing squad and talent from its own youth academy. These players need time to develop – as they do everywhere. Marquinhos is back, as are João Neves and Vitinha. Ousmane Dembélé was usually the number nine in attack, but now Senny Mayulu, a young talent, is likely to take over the role. The team is currently performing well again but is not yet back to the top form it had at the end of last season.”

There have been two sides to PSG this season. While their performances in the league have been rather inconsistent, they have won all three games in the Champions League. Which Paris do you expect to see against Bayern?
“That's hard to say. They also won in Barcelona with a lot of young players. Three young players were in the starting line-up with Warren Zaïre-Emery, Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye. But it seems as if the motivation PSG show in the Champions League is not the same as in league games. Against Nice at the weekend, they didn't score the winning goal until the 94th minute. On Tuesday, they'll have to play at a higher level than they have recently. All the matches between Bayern and PSG in recent years have been fiercely contested.”

Which PSG players do you think FC Bayern should pay particular attention to?
“The full-backs, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, are fantastic players. Bayern need to keep a close eye on them because they pose a real threat going forward. They’re physically strong and very quick. There’ll be a big battle for the ball in midfield because PSG have two outstanding midfielders in Neves and Vitinha. Zaïre-Emery will normally play alongside them, but Fábian Ruiz also did an excellent job of pressing and controlling the ball last season. I think Vitinha will be the key player in midfield.”

How potent is their attack currently?
“Bradley Barcola has played a lot lately and seems very tired at the moment; he wasn't in good form against Nice. I'm not sure what level he'll be at on Tuesday. In my opinion, Dembélé won't be able to play because he's still struggling with a muscle problem and has only just returned from injury. So it's impossible for him to play at full strength. Of course, without Dembélé and Doué [also injured], it's not the same. The team is playing at almost top level in defence and midfield, but not in attack because many important players are out with injuries.”

How strong are Bayern at the moment compared to the top European teams?
“It's difficult to assess at this stage of the season. Of course, Bayern are one of the teams that can win the Champions League. They’re in very good form and have won 15 games in a row. Even with rotation, they play at a high level and the team spirit is fantastic. But it's a long season. You never know for sure until the end. The level you show in November doesn't necessarily have to be the same in the decisive phase in March or April.”

Have you ever experienced that yourself?
“I remember when we won the Champions League in 2001, we lost [3-0] to Lyon in the winter. We didn't perform well. But after that, in the decisive phase, we were very good. When I was at Bayern, the most important time of the year always started in March. It's like a sprint finish. You have to be good throughout the season. And when March starts, you have to be very good to win titles. You need a special mentality for that.”

Is there a player at Bayern who particularly impresses you at the moment?
“I love watching Michael Olise. He needed some time to settle in with the national team at first, but now you can see that he feels comfortable with France and is playing with confidence. At Bayern, he plays on the wing, but I like him best in the number 10 position for France. We've been missing a playmaker like him for a long time. I like him in both positions – it depends on the tactical approach.”

You yourself have played alongside world-class attacking players such as Zinédine Zidane and Thierry Henry. What makes Olise such an exceptional player in your opinion?
“I don't want to compare him. He’s Michael Olise and he is doing really well. You can see how freely he plays. I love it when he's the key player in attack and sets up his teammates perfectly. He's a creative, technically strong player who stands out from the rest. His movements are smooth, and he always looks relaxed. He's still young, getting better and better, and can be a solution for his manager in two positions. Let's see how he develops.”

Paris has undergone radical change – and so has PSG. While the French capital is focusing on sustainable mobility and green architecture, the flagship club has turned its back on star culture and is suddenly winning titles as a team and not individual headliners. Ahead of Tuesday night’s game, discover how football and city life are being reinvented, Parisian style.