IN IT TO WIN IT EXCLUSIVE
Alves: Celts tie a stepping stone to glory
DANI ALVES insists PSG will use Glasgow as a stepping stone towards winning the Champions League. The Brazilian ace and his superstar colleagues are heading to Parkhead on Tuesday for a blockbuster group stage opener against Celtic. Alves has won European football’s elite competition on three occasions with Barcelona and is adamant he can make that four with
the big-spending French giants.
He said: “That is why I chose to join PSG. The project is very exciting and this summer the owners have shown a clear intent that they want to compete at the highest level.
“We might not have the history of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern in Europe but we now have a team that can compete with anybody.
“Our aim is to start winning the biggest trophies. The only successful outcome for PSG in the Champions League this season is winning it.
“PSG and Bayern are two of the clubs that will want to win the competition but the group is about more than us.
“Celtic are a team I know well. They are very physical and I am sure they will give us two games where physically we have to match them. “
Alves believes fellow countryman Neymar will make an instant Champions League impression for PSG by blowing Celtic away.
The Brazilian superstar’s £200million move from Barcelona stunned the football world and the winger has joined to win Europe’s elite competition.
Alves said: “Already in his opening games he has shown what he can do.
“I have played with him at Barcelona and Brazil and it is difficult to explain just how good he is.
“He always rises to the pressure and I am sure he will get even better here.
“He is still young so he can be the best player in the world for many years. You win the Champions League as a team but he will be like a weapon.”