Leandro Paredes’ time with Paris Saint-Germain is one that’s filled with peaks and valleys. There are moments where the Argentine looks like he’s stringing together a set of solid performances, and then there are times in which he barely sees the pitch.
In a recent interview with PSG TV, the 25-year-old reflects on his first full year with the capital club.
The first topic up for discussion is the recent match against Pau FC in the Coupe de France in which Paredes was given the captain’s armband, an honor he said he had no clue about prior to the match.
“I found out as I arrived in the dressing room… I was extremely proud to be able to wear the captain’s armband for Paris Saint-Germain. Lots of top players here have worn it before me, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos… it’s a huge source of pride.”
Despite Pau being a third division club, having his teammates and the coaching staff pick him to lead the squad displays the level of respect they have for Paredes.
“It was also our intention to show him that we trust him, that we want him to take responsibility because he has the quality to do it and that’s what he did,” Tuchel said after the win over Pau.
After talking about scoring his first goal with the club in the same match against Pau, Paredes does some reflecting on his first year with PSG.
“…I get on very well with everyone,” Paredes said. “There is a lot of mutual respect between us. And everyone has welcomed me brilliantly, not only the players but also the staff and everybody at the club.”
The Argentine sees the respect his teammates have for him and the welcoming atmosphere the club has shown him. Furthermore, his family seems to be enjoying their life in Paris.
“My wife and my kids like Paris too and they are very happy,” Paredes said. They support me a lot in everything that I do and to know that they feel good here, that reassures me a lot.”
Captain Leandro Paredes officially scored for the first time in his career with PSG on today evening against Pau FC in the eighth finals of the Coupe de France. pic.twitter.com/G1hBmSdUON
— Argentina Soccer 11 🇦🇷 (@ArgSoccer11) January 29, 2020
Finally, the interview wraps up with a tactical question as Paredes explains how his game has evolved since he first began with Boca Juniors.
“I like the change. I like experiencing new things all of the time. I started out as a number 10, then I evolved towards the number 6 role. I feel really at ease and getting better and better.”
Nonetheless, after captaining the squad and scoring his first goal with the club, Paredes’ confidence seems to be at an all-time high since arriving in Paris. The Argentine goes on to say, “I am feeling really good at the moment, so I hope to be able to continue to learn and grow here at Paris Saint-Germain.”
With injuries in the midfield and the Ligue 1 leaders needing all the help from their depth, PSG could finally start seeing Paredes play at his full potential.
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