Botafogo stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 win, thanks to Igor Jesus’ 36th-minute goal, taking the lead in Group B with six points from two games. Coach Renato Paiva praised his team’s tactical perfection, saying they outsmarted the French giants. “We were flawless,” Paiva said. “The PSG didn’t have many clear chances.” Paiva believes Botafogo’s teamwork was key to their success. “We were more like PSG than PSG,” he joked. “We all attacked, we all defended.”
The win was historic, pitting the Champions League winner against the Copa Libertadores holder. Paiva said his team ignored external noise and stuck to their plan. “After our first game, everyone thought it was chaos,” he said. “But we believed in ourselves.” Paiva dedicated the win to all Brazilian coaches and players, expressing pride in representing Brazil. He also praised his team’s flexibility, saying they adapted to PSG’s style.
A Game of Strategy
Paiva explained that Botafogo’s strategy was to be smart and disciplined. “We knew PSG is a machine,” he said. “We couldn’t just attack; we had to be clever.” The coach revealed that before the game, he showed his team a slide with the Champions League and Copa Libertadores trophies. “I told them the world would say it’s the Champions League winner vs the Copa Libertadores winner,” he said. “But the next slide was our team, and I said, ‘This is who we are.'”
The Botafogo coach was thrilled with his team’s performance. “I’m proud because we were ourselves,” he said. The win was a testament to the team’s hard work and quality. “Our players have a lot of talent,” Paiva said.