Ivan Perišić indicated in his first press conference on behalf of PSV that he wants to continue playing football for a while. The 136-time Croatian international is eager to play Sunday.
What were the last few weeks like for you?
"I was very nervous because I didn't have a club yet. I was training on my own and hoping something nice would come along. When PSV called I didn't hesitate for a moment. That feeling was reinforced by Denzel Dumfries. He told me everything about the club, but also about the city. I was keen to make this step."
Why are you so eager to continue and win awards?
"I'm still in the first three with sprint and endurance running. As long as that's still the case and I like it, I'll keep going. I also can't imagine life without football yet."
Can you adapt quickly to what is asked of you here?
"I played similar football in my time at Bayern Munich. So I think I'm picking that up quickly. Physically I'm not yet able to play a whole game right now, but I can certainly fill in."
What positions can you play in?
"Actually, under the crossbar is the only position I haven't played yet, so we'll see."
How were the first practices?
"I enjoyed every moment and I hope to play on Sunday. I'm still very hungry. I'm just enjoying football. If I continue like this, I will stay active as a football player for a long time. I've been working almost 10 to 12 hours a day to push the recovery of my knee."
What do you know about PSV?
"Quite a lot actually, because I have been following the Eredivisie since I was little."
Did you watch the game against Juventus?
"Definitely, the first 20 to 25 minutes PSV was strong, but then Juventus did what they are known for: first chance, first goal. I played in Italy for six years, so I knew it could happen."
Do you already speak a word of Dutch?
"To my surprise, I can understand it quite well. That's because I speak German and it's quite similar. Now that I'm here I want to master the language. I do that everywhere I play."