Before the return to his former club Club Brugge, the Belgium international gave an exclusive interview to PSG TV .
Thomas, the squad has been strengthened this season which is a great plus for the team...
"Players like Pablo Sarabia, Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera help me enormously, because I'm in direct contact with them on the pitch. I like that style of player, because they really have a sense of team spirit. We did some good transfers, whether it be Keylor Navas, Sergio Rico, Mauro Icardi, it's the highest quality. We have a very strong squad, both in mental and physical terms. For me, the team is really the team the coach wants to have to be competitive. There's no secret, to be able to get results, you have to be able to count as much on those on the bench as those who start."
We see the full-backs going forward and playing on the wing, but you often cut inside to find yourself in a position to shoot or get on the end of a cross…
"Firstly, the coach wants to play possession football and wants at least four or five players in the penalty area to get on the end of crosses. When the move is on the right, it's up to Juan to come inside, and when it's on the left, it's me. You don't play with four defenders at the back and sweepers like before. The full-backs can now go forward, and the centre-backs play as defensive midfielders from time to time. We've seen Marquinhos be able to take on that role brilliantly as he's a modern player. We have to take part more in play than in the past. For me, it's almost an obligation to take part in attacking play and be present at least once or twice in the penalty area, to press high, to give assists and score goals."
Against Real Madrid, you scored right at the end of the game from a pass from Juan Bernat…
"It's crazy to say that we both finished as centre-forwards to be able to score against Real Madrid. It sounds mad! It's our best performance of the season so far, no doubt. We played as a team, everyone worked, everyone wanted to help each other. That's the attitude to have, the team must always come first."
What's your relationship with Colin Dagba, who plays in the same position as you?
"Things are very good between us. We laugh a lot. I'll never be at war with a rival for the same position. If he plays instead of me it's because he deserves it. It's healthy competition. We all get on very well, whether it be with Thilo or Colin. As for Colin, it's important the club plays its youngsters. It's very good they were able to get him to sign a contract extension, it's a sign of confidence and respect for him. He feels good here in Paris, we have already spoken about that a number of times. He's 21, he can play another ten or 15 years at the top level, and I hope he'll do it here."
On Tuesday, you return to Bruges where you spent five years. It must be a special game for you...
"They're the ones who carried out my football education from 19 to 24. In Flanders, there is a very forthright, very academic mentality, it's a 'German' education and it's something I like. They have made a part of the Thomas Meunier who is at Paris Saint-Germain today. They're a very good team, they have an excellent coach, an excellent squad. They're getting a new stadium and have invested in players like Simon Mignolet, who has come from Liverpool. That's not nothing, they have ambition. We saw against Real they could have gone 3-0 up and the game would have been over, but they drew 2-2, which is still a fantastic result. It's been a long time since a Belgian club has got the country going in European competition like Brugge are doing now."