Pjanić: 'I will contribute my experience to the group'

Miralem Pjanić is experiencing his first weeks as a Barça player. After training for the first time at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on September 12 and after playing his first match as a culer on September 19, the Bosnian midfielder talked to three sports newspapers: Sport, Mundo Deportivo and L'Esportiu. The new No.8 wants to start competing as soon as possible, and below are some of his statements:

First days at the club

“Things are going very well. Physically I am working hard to get ready as soon as possible. I am looking forward to the start of the season, I hope it will be a good year"

Adapting to Barça 

“One of my virtues is that I always try to adapt. I always say that someone who knows how to play football and has the will, adapts. That's what I've always tried wherever I've been, and it will not be any different in Barcelona. I will contribute my experience to the group"

Koeman

“He is working us very hard. The workouts are tough. Now we have to prove it on the field, in the first game. Starting with a win would give us a lot of confidence"

“He is very motivated. He is a very confident coach and has clear ideas. We saw it with the Netherlands, they did very well in recent years. He was happy to have come to Barça and is eager to show his qualities as a coach"

New team-mates

“They are very motivated. This team wants revenge. Our goal is to go step by step: starting with the league, which will not be easy"

“It is a very good group, with great players. I will be part of this team and I will try to do my best to be available throughout the year"

“I have to thank everyone. They are good guys with a big heart and they can count on me on the field and off it. I will be a team-mate they can always count on"

The objectives for this season

“I'm here to win. The objective is to compete in all the competitions, to get to March physically well and with all the players available. This way, all of the competitions can be attacked. The league is very important, the Copa del Rey too, and the Champions League is everyone's dream"

Messi

“Every weekend or every three days he shows on the field that he is the best player in history. In training he is also extraordinary, he makes plays that only he imagines. He is an extraordinary player and my desire was to be able to play with this champion"

Free-kicks

“It has always been one of my qualities. I've always worked to improve them because a free-kick can unlock tricky matches and you can win a match. We know that Leo is very good at them tool. If I have the opportunity, I will always be available"

Goodbye to Suárez 

“It is difficult because he is one of the best forwards in the world. It will not be easy to replace him. Whoever comes, or whoever plays in that position, must try their best so we don't notice his absence"

El Clásico

"It will be impressive, but the first thing I want to see is the stadiums full again. I can't wait for people to return to the stands, to be happy, and the world to be normal, because it is difficult to play in these conditions"

Bosnia

“I left Bosnia when I was one year old, because of the war in the Balkans, but I have always felt Bosnian throughout my life because of my traditions, my family, the language spoken at home..."

“I am proud to represent a country that has had a bad time and to try to make people proud of Bosnia. For the Bosnians, it is incredible that a citizen of their country plays for Barça"

The first contact with football

“From Bosnia my parents went to Luxembourg with two suitcases, and that's where my father started playing football. That's how I started to experience the game, watching his training sessions and games. I had no toys, my only toy was the ball. I grew up playing football"

The qualities acquired in France and Italy

“In France I learned technical and physical aspects, but also to perform at the highest level. I came to Lyon at 18 and shared a dressing room with players like Juninho, Benzema, Cris and Govou"

“In Italy I learned tactical aspects above all. I had great coaches: Luis Enrique, Rudi García, Allegri, Spalletti… I also learned to be better prepared physically to play all the games"

"At Barça I hope to continue learning. I have played more than 600 games, I think I have some experience, and I am going to play with footballers who also know the game, but I want to continue learning"