In a press conference today, August 8th, AC Milan's new signing, Strahinja Pavlovic, has spoken to the media to present himself. Here are his words as he was accompanied by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also spoke to the journalists present there (read here):
How important was Zlatan Ibrahimović in convincing you to come to Milan?
"It was fundamental for me. The more I talked to Zlatan, the more I was convinced to come here. I realised how much they wanted me."
What kind of defender are you?
"I am an aggressive player. I still need to talk to the coach; I am here to do whatever he asks. Whether it's a three-man or four-man defence doesn’t make much difference to me. I am here to give 200%."
Have you talked to any Serbian players?
"I have talked to several Serbian players who play in Italy. Coming to Italy is the right choice for me at this moment. In Italy, I can improve a lot."
Who is your past Milan idol?
"I chose number 31, which is the number I already had at Salzburg. Then I found out that Stam had worn it here, and he has always been a hero for me. Many compare us, definitely because of the hair (laughs), but apart from that, we both have great aggressiveness."
Who will you be competing for the scudetto with?
"In Italy, there are excellent teams, and there's great competition for the scudetto. The comparison with Inter? I've spoken with many fans, and there is great respect between the two clubs. That's nice."
In what areas can you improve at Milan?
"Every day, you need to improve and learn. I don’t know specifically what I can improve, but I can say that I will give everything every day."
How are you physically?
"I feel fit, I’m doing well, and I’m in shape. I’ve already trained at Milanello, and I trained well at Salzburg too."
What are your dreams now that you are at Milan?
"When you join a great club like Milan, the dreams are big."
What do you think of Milanello?
"Everything has been positive since I arrived. It's a dream come true. Milanello is beautiful, and everyone is helping me. I also like the city, even though I’ve only been here for a short time."
What can your being left-footed bring to Milan?
"Being left-footed is an advantage because there are no other left-footed defenders."
Have you watched any of Milan's matches from last year?
"Yes, I’ve seen several. I watched the goals conceded. The whole team needs to work on both attack and defense. We need to have solidity."
What should your opponents fear?
"They just need to look at me, as Ibra said (smiles)."
Can you play other roles as well?
"When I was younger, I played different roles. I had a coach who used me in various positions, and that helped me."
What can you bring to a match like the derby?
"I played in the Belgrade derby. I was very young and quickly learned what it means to handle the pressure in such matches."
Are you excited that you will soon hear the fans' chants?
"I’m happy. I want to step onto the field and show everyone my strengths. I hope to be able to show who I am and that the fans will appreciate my style of play."
Does Inter have the strongest attack in Serie A? Strahinja Pavlovic commented:
"I don't know if they are the best, but they have great qualities. I played against Inter twice, and they have strong attackers."
How did the family react to Milan's interest?
"They are proud and happy. They will come to the first league match. They are definitely proud."
