“Of course! After two consecutive defeats – especially the home loss against Toulouse – it was very important to get the win. Even more so against Lille, who are a top 5 team and a side we couldn’t let get away from us on the ladder. We’re back in the hunt for a European place, so the next match against Le Havre could see us continue our climb, if we win...”
What did you think of Sunday’s match?
“It was a really tough match, with a lot of pressure. It’s often the case when we’re playing at home, thanks notably to our results at home last season. All the same, I’m convinced we’re getting better with each match and playing with less tension. The atmosphere is always incredible at this stadium and I love playing at the Parc des Princes.”
Just what is at stake in this weekend’s match against Le Havre?
“Le Havre are close to the relegation zone and aren’t having a great season. We have to do everything to beat them. After the win against Marseille, we lost against Toulouse and Nice. This is a good chance to earn three points on the road and keep moving up the table, and with that we can keep enjoying our football and play with less and less pressure.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s game against Nancy in the League Cup... is this competition one of the priorities of the club?
“The club won this trophy last season, so of course we’re going to try and defend out title. It won’t be easy, but every competition is important. Every match is important, because you have to try and win every game to create a winning culture. We have to do the absolute maximum against Nancy, especially because we’ll be playing at home. It would also be a good confidence boost ahead of Le Havre.”
Does PSG have the squad to compete on four fronts?
“We have some good young players in the squad who will be able to lend a hand. I think we have a big enough bench. If you take the substitutes from Sunday, there was Péguy (Luyindula), Greg (Bourillon) and me who could also step into the starting XI. There are often six or seven potential starters who have to sit on the bench. So I think we can overcome the problems of a busy calendar.”
How are you coping with your current situation?
“It’s not easy... I’ve been a professional player for the last 12 years and I’ve never been on the bench for three games in a row. It’s hard, especially since I came here to play football and score goals. When I had the chance to come and play for PSG I jumped at it because it was a dream come true. That’s why I fought so hard to quit Turkey. In Serbia, we say that after the rain, there’s sunshine. So I’m still working very hard, being professional – perhaps even more than before. I’m going to keep on doing my best to prove to the coach that I can add something to the team. I can only do that by scoring goals, so I’m happy I had two good chances against Lille in just 15 minutes. I have to show every day, that he can count on me.”
