Leandro Paredes: 'Aim even higher'

You arrived midway through the season. How have you settled in?
"Everything is very different here, a lot of things change when you arrive at a big club like Paris Saint-Germain. I became the teammate of such talented players, coached by a coach who also has a lot of talent. It's a big change in my career, and one that I wanted to approach with calm. I wanted to adapt as well and as quickly as possible to my teammates' play. I came in midway through the season, I think it went well, and I'm going to work this summer to start the season in top form."

You're now with Verratti and Marquinhos in midfield. Was settling in difficult?
"Everything went well. Of course, when you look at things, there are a lot of things to improve. But I try to learn from them too, in each training session and each game. That's what I've always done, but with those kinds of players by my side, I know I'm going to improve very quickly."

You have played in Italy and Russia, but Ligue 1 is very different…
"It's a very physical league. There is a lot of contact, and defences are very compact and solid. You always have to try and find an opening, exploit the smallest crack. It's a very difficult league."

It also means you now play all year round with Angel Di Maria…
"It's incredible to have a player of his talent on the pitch with us, whether it be with Paris Saint-Germain or Argentina. He's shown that over a number of years, and he had another big season. His talent is no secret for anyone."

What are you goals for next season?
"These first six months have really been a period of adaptation. For next season, I'll have a better understanding of my teammates' play. I'm sure that we can aim higher still."