Verratti: 'A very important time in the season'

Marco, how have the first few days of the Asia Summer Tour 2018 been going?
“We have settled in well! I think this is a very important time in the season. We work very hard and it’s very tough! The weather is almost perfect. I thought it was going t be a bit hotter. We feel good. We are training on a very good pitch and it’s close to our hotel. All the conditions are united for having a good preseason.”

Have you had the chance to visit Singapore a little?
“Not yet, but I hope to soon! We should get a little free-time in the next few days. I really like visiting foreign cities and getting to know other cultures and food… I hope I will get the chance here!”

How have you been received by the local supporters?
“I was a bit surprised. There are a lot of people at every training session and they are really passionate. It’s really nice and it shows that Paris Saint-Germain is growing in popularity around the world. Whenever we travel somewhere new, there are always a lot of people to see us. It’s a real pleasure. It’s still a young club, so to have so many supporters on the other side of the world is incredible.”

How have the first few days gone with Thomas Tuchel and the new coaching staff?
“Every coach has their own style. We are working very hard, but always in a good atmosphere. We are having a lot of fun on the pitch and that’s important to work well. Everything is going well. We are very happy with the new coach and with everyone from the club who is here, they are all working hard and doing a great job. It’s good for everyone because we are here to work and prepare for a very important match against Monaco. We have to be ready to go right from the start of the season.”

How are you feeling personally?
“I haven’t played a competitive match for a long time. I have worked very hard throughout the holidays. Nobody is 100 per cent yet, which is normal because it’s just the start of the season and we are training very hard to be in good shape for the whole campaign. I think we’ll be 100% in September/October. Today, we have to work, work, work… even if we’re tired and it’s hard we have to keep going…”

There’s a good test coming up against Arsenal…
“Yes. But the result is not the most important thing in that match. We are in preseason, so we have to work hard every day. We only have two matches before the Trophée des Champions, and that’s an important game. We won the right to contest this match thanks to our performances last season. Now we have to win it. The match against Arsenal is also important because it will be a chance to measure ourselves against a quality side and see where we still have work to do.”

One of your compatriots joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer… How did you feel when the club announced the transfer of Gianluigi Buffon?
“It was strange! If you had told me one day I’d be playing club football with Buffon… I never would have believed it because I am very happy here and he was very happy at Juventus. There are only positives to describe Gianluigi. There is no way to do justice to everything he has achieved on a football pitch, to describe the player… Everyone will quickly understand that he is a great man with a great character. He hasn’t joined the club to talk. But when he does, he speaks very well and always to help the team. In the national team, we were always very close and he was very nice and made me laugh. I like spending time with him. I am very happy that he has come to Paris.”

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