Javier Pastore Reflects on Champions League Career and PSG Regret
Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore has opened up about his career in the Champions League, naming his greatest regret as never having reached the final with the French club. The 34-year-old Argentine, who spent seven seasons at the Parc des Princes between 2011 and 2018, made the comments in a wide-ranging interview published this week.
Pastore, now retired, identified the collective victory over Chelsea in the 2014 quarter-finals and a memorable goal against Barcelona in 2013 as his standout personal moments in the competition. He scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the 2013 quarter-final tie, a result he described as a major blow to the Catalan side. Despite that, he conceded that the failure to progress further with a talented PSG squad remains a source of disappointment.
When asked to name the player who seemed most transformed by the Champions League, Pastore pointed to his former international teammates. "Every time Lavezzi and Di María heard the Champions League anthem, you saw them ready to play it. They gave you a different motivation," he said. He also highlighted Ángel Di María's specific pre-match rituals to manage stress, noting the winger would shower at the same time and wear the same clothes and perfume.
Reflecting on opponents, Pastore named Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos as the fiercest competitor he faced. "He puts enormous passion on the pitch, it was always complicated to play against him," he stated. He also expressed admiration for Luka Modrić's style of play, drawing parallels to his own instinctive, dribbling-based approach in a creative midfield role.
Beyond his own experiences, Pastore discussed his early fascination with the tournament, tracing it back to watching Lionel Messi during Barcelona's 2009 triumph. He credited the competition with introducing him to clubs like Borussia Dortmund, whose fan culture initially impressed him, and Red Star Belgrade.
Looking at the current season, Pastore tipped Atlético Madrid as a potential winner. "If I speak from the heart, I hope Paris wins it again," he said. "But if we look at all the teams left, I'd say Atlético de Madrid can really go for it. They have a strong squad, full of talented players." He suggested that while Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG have dominated the narrative for two decades, Diego Simeone's side has a genuine chance.
The interview concluded with Pastore reflecting on the lifestyle of a professional footballer, noting he now enjoys travelling through European cities he previously only saw through the windows of team buses and hotels. Having settled in Madrid since retirement, he said he makes a point of exploring each destination on his current professional travels, fulfilling a childhood dream of experiencing Europe.
