Achraf Hakimi: "I like to feel this kind of pressure"

Hello Achraf, how are you?

I feel very, very good. I feel very comfortable overall with my teammates this season, with more confidence and also with the playing system.

There are worse ways to start the season than with a trophy... And three wins in three games is a promising start!

It is true that there is no better way to start the season than by winning a trophy. Let's hope it's the first of many! The first three games have been very good. We have progressed and I feel that the team is comfortable. The truth is that we trained a lot during the pre-season with our new coach, with the new system, and we also understand each other very well after a year together. Let's hope it will be like this for many games and that we will do great things together.

After three victories, you already have to back it up this weekend. Isn't that the hardest thing now: having to perform at the same level in every game?

Yes, there is pressure. But it's normal because we always want to win. People expect that too, so every game is a challenge. Every game is a new opportunity to be able to win, to build confidence and to feel good together. I like to feel this kind of pressure, to have to win, because when you win with this pressure, you enjoy it even more.

This Sunday, you'll be facing Lille. What kind of game are you expecting?

We have studied this match. The coach has too, especially as he knows this team very well and has told us about them. As for me, I remember last year well, and they were one of the toughest opponents we faced during the season. I think it will be a very enjoyable game to play and to watch.

You once again showed your shooting ability with your goal in Clermont: is it something you work on in training?

It's something I love to do. When I was a kid, I used to play a bit higher and now I try to work on my finishing in training with my teammates. We have fun because I try to compete with them by scoring more goals. Then I try to reproduce it in matches and to feel ready to score. This year I have had more opportunities to do so. Thanks to the system, I have more opportunities because I am much higher up and above all, I have more confidence in myself. I feel very good with my teammates and I try to take advantage of the opportunities I have. I hope more goals will come!

So you have both defensive and offensive responsibilities: is this a pressure for you?

No, it's not a pressure, but it's a responsibility. I have to do my best in attack, but also in defence so that the team trusts me.

Ramos is the player with whom you exchange most of the ball during matches. Do you also exchange a lot off the pitch?

It's true that we get along well and that this is also reflected off the pitch. We have a good friendship, we try to transmit it in the match so that the connection is good, especially as he is the team-mate I am closest to on the pitch. We talk a lot, he helps me with everything and gives me a lot of advice.

 Speaking of matches: Do you like to look back on your own performances?

Well yes, I try to look at what I did, my movements, my runs, to try to improve some things, and not only the good ones, but also the bad ones. I try to analyse how to make myself better understood by certain teammates and improve things. And I also try to improve on what I did last year.

There is also a new coach since the beginning of the season. How do you feel about these first few weeks with him?

You can see how he is on match days, on the edge of the pitch. But apart from that, he is a funny person, who tries to joke with the players, who is close to them, who tries to be affectionate. And it's true that you can feel it, and that gives us confidence.

Watch the full interview this Saturday afternoon on PSGTV