Leandro Paredes, who captained his side against Pau last Wednesday, has been attracting plaudits for his recent performances.
Leandro, how was it to captain the side last Wednesday against Pau?
“I found out as I arrived in the dressing room… I was extremely proud to be able to wear the captain’s armband for Paris Saint-Germain. Lots of top players here have worn it before me, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos… it’s a huge source of pride. I feel that I am really respected by the coach, the coaching staff and my teammates. Everyone respects me here. I have an excellent relationship with everybody.”
You finally got yourself a goal on the same evening!
“Yes, but I had almost scored in my first matches. It took some time, but I have finally scored my first goal for the club (against Pau). I am happy to have been able to help the team to qualify for the next round. That’s the most important thing.”
After a year at the club, how are you feeling here at Paris Saint-Germain?
“As I said earlier, I get on very well with everyone. There is a lot of mutual respect between us. And everyone has welcomed me brilliantly, not only the players, but also the staff and everybody at the club. I am naturally a happy person, and it’s more or less the case with everyone here. Everything is going well! My wife and my kids like Paris too and they are very happy. They support me a lot in everything that I do and to know that they feel good here, that reassures me a lot.”
Your style has changed since you started out with Boca. How do you feel in this midfield role in Paris?
‘I like the change. I like experiencing new things all of the time. I started out as a number 10, then I evolved towards the number 6 role. I feel really at ease and getting better and better. I am feeling really good at the moment, so I hope to be able to continue to learn and grow here at Paris Saint-Germain.”
