The Japan Times - Thrilling Kvaratskhelia hoping to drive PSG to another Champions League final

"I play football because I love it and I am always so pleased to be on the pitch," the 25-year-old former Napoli man said on Monday, on the eve of the first leg against the German champions in Paris.

If the English Premier League has placed a greater emphasis this season on physicality and set-pieces, the likes of PSG and Bayern have shown with their performances in Europe that football at the very highest level can still be a genuine joy to watch.

"Football has changed and is not the same sport that it was, but of course it is important to do beautiful things and I am proud to be able to," added Kvaratskhelia, who has been arguably the main driving force in PSG's run to the brink of another Champions League final.

Signed from Napoli in January last year, Kvaratskhelia played a leading role for Luis Enrique's side as they made it to the final and demolished Inter Milan 5-0, allowing PSG to become champions of Europe for the first time.

This season, he has been the most prolific of his career, as he now has 15 goals between Ligue 1 and the Champions League, eclipsing the 14 he scored on Napoli's run to the Serie A title in 2023.

Eight of his goals in this campaign have come in Europe, from a breathtaking strike against Atalanta in September to brilliant finishes in commanding knockout victories against Chelsea and Liverpool.

That finishing ability allied with his tremendous workrate make the player nicknamed "Kvaradona" by Napoli fans an absolute nightmare for opposition defences.

- Missing from World Cup -

"I think technically I was just as good at Napoli, but I have really improved defensively with Luis Enrique. He has really pushed me," said Kvaratskhelia, who admits that the Diego Maradona comparisons bring some pressure.

"Sometimes it is also difficult to be compared to Maradona because every time you take to the pitch, you need to live up to that billing."

Kvaratskhelia has, however, come into peak form at just the right time for the run-in, with seven goals in his last eight appearances.

He was rested by Luis Enrique for PSG's routine 3-0 win at Angers on Saturday, which saw them take a big step towards retaining the Ligue 1 title -- they are now six points clear of Lens with four games left.

But the Champions League is the main objective and he will be back at kick-off against Bayern along with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele as PSG look to seize an advantage to take to Munich for next week's second leg.

"We played a lot last season so we were a bit tired at the start of this season, but now I think we are in really good shape physically," said Kvaratskhelia.

With the World Cup approaching, it is a great shame that, even with the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams, there will be no place for a player whose quality was not enough for Georgia to qualify.

That, therefore, places even greater importance for him on the Champions League, although Luis Enrique is adamant that the World Cup is not distracting any of his players from the prospect of more European glory.

"It is the magic of the Champions League -- it gives a special energy to the players and everyone wants to be there and make the most of this tie," said the Spanish coach.

T.Sasaki--JT