Cavani: 'The supporters are my motivation'
With just three matches left this season, Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani discusses the 2018-19 season and his relationship with the supporters.
Edi, how do you judge this season?
It’s true that it was a bit difficult for us this season. We have gotten used to winning, and that’s important for a team that wants to keep growing. This year we won the league with six games to spare. That is an important achievement, but it’s also true that we didn’t win the other cups. Each season we try to win as many trophies as possible, while remaining humble, all the while. This end of season has shown that we lack a few things… We know what happened and we have to maintain a positive mentality. We need to keep working hard because it’s during these difficult moments that you learn and grow.
You have always had a special relationship with the supporters here in Paris…
I think the supporters were happy when I signed here. But I think the love has grown over the years, like the entire relationship. It’s a bit strange to be great friends the first time you meet. A real friendship is created over time, through negative and positive moments. I think we have come a long way together. The supporters give me a lot of joy and motivation. When I joined the club, there were already great players here such as Ibra, Thiago Silva… perhaps that’s why our relationship took a little time to develop.
You have only played 18 matches this term, scoring 17 goals. How has this season been with so many injury problems?
It’s not easy when you are used to playing so much, when football and competing are in your DNA. It’s really not easy just watching the games on your television, watching your teammates fighting without you, when you can’t be there. But I prefer having good teammates and playing with my mates – that means more to me than my stats at the end of the campaign.
What sort of match do you expect this weekend against Angers?
Every match is difficult. Every team wants to beat us. They give everything on the pitch. We have to fight for the 90 minutes. We are expecting a tough game. Even if the two sides have nothing to play for, every team wants to knock us off. But we also want to win.