Pavlovic: I Do Not Want to Leave, I Can Go Without Scoring If We Win

Before AC Milan's match against Juventus, defender Pavlovic gave an exclusive interview to Tuttosport. The match is also the first major clash of the season.

This is Pavlovic's third season with the Rossoneri. Considering the frequent squad changes in recent seasons, he can now be considered a veteran.

“I really like being here. I feel very comfortable in Milan. My family has also adapted well to the city, although since my son was born, I have basically spent my time between home and Milanello.”

Did any teams try to convince you to leave AC Milan this summer?

“There are always opportunities, it happens every summer, and all players experience situations like this. But I did not want to leave. When I first spoke with Alessandro Amorim, I understood that I was important to him. A contract extension? I am happy here and I want to stay.”

What influence does Amorim have in the dressing room?

“He is still a very young coach. I like him because you can see that he understands what players think and feel. On the pitch, when he needs to be tough, he is very tough and demands that you give your best; off the pitch, he is friendly and easygoing.”

This Portuguese coach's tactical demands are very different from Allegri's. Is it difficult to change your style of play?

“We are all professional players, and throughout our careers we have all encountered different coaches and different training methods. We need time to adapt, but I think after two months the changes have already started to appear.”

Last season you said Allegri was very important for your growth as a defender.

“Of course. I think playing as a defender in Italy is a very important experience, and Allegri is one of the coaches best at teaching defending. With Amorim, we will have more possession most of the time, and I can certainly continue improving in other areas.” However, you were already used to more attacking-minded coaches like Jaissle during your time at Salzburg.

Do you think the two coaches have similarities?

“There are some similarities. For example, organization without the ball and constant pressing. But other things are different. With Amorim we play with three defenders, while with Jaissle we played with four defenders.”

Against Torino and Venezia, you made fewer forward runs with the ball than during Allegri's time. Is that Amorim's requirement?

“The style has changed. Before, our formation was deeper and we played more on the counterattack; now we position ourselves higher and I have more space to cover behind me. Before, I could move forward with more confidence because there were more teammates behind me; now I know that if I push up, I may expose my area. Also, after two years, opponents are more familiar with my characteristics, so it is harder to surprise them suddenly.”

Will you score fewer goals in the future?

You scored 2 goals in your first Serie A season and 5 last season. “Put it this way, if I never score again but we win every match, that is completely fine.”

Returning to Allegri and last season: can you explain the collapse in recent months?

“It is difficult to explain. Even today I do not understand what happened in the final match against Cagliari: we were at home, in front of our own fans, and the opponent had already secured survival. As Allegri said, football was invented by the devil. I think everything started after we beat Inter in the second derby and then lost to Lazio. That was a key match for getting back into the title race, but we lost, and I think it affected our mentality. Also, at that time we thought we were certain to qualify for the Champions League, and our focus dropped somewhat.”

Did Modric's injury last month have a major impact?

“A big impact. Luka was and still is a key figure for this team.”

Tomorrow night in Turin, you will not face your friend Vlahovic.

“To be honest, we have not faced each other as opponents many times. When he was on the pitch I was on the bench, and when I was on the pitch he was on the bench; we probably shared the field for only about 30 minutes. Honestly, I thought he would go to one of the top five clubs in Europe's major leagues, but he must have had his reasons for choosing Besiktas. I think being reunited with Italiano, who helped him shine at Fiorentina, also played a role. I wish him all the best.”

Can we expect a more exciting Juventus vs AC Milan match than last season?

“The two 0-0 draws last season were not the same. We should have got more in Turin, we missed a penalty, and Leao also missed two excellent chances. The return match was different; it was a really poor 0-0. In any case, this will be a difficult match. Juventus are a good team. In my opinion, they can not only compete with us for Champions League places, but also pursue higher targets. Now six or seven teams can fight for the title. Inter Milan are the favorites, but this will be a very exciting battle. This is the beauty of Serie A: we are not like 20 or 30 years ago, when Serie A was like today's Premier League; in England they have more money and it is difficult to compete with them, but I think Serie A is the league right behind them. It is more balanced here and upsets are more likely; while in Spain, France and Germany, it is always the same established clubs winning titles.”

Against Juventus, whose threat concerns you the most?

“Conceicao is difficult to defend against. He is fast and can shoot with both feet, although I think the task of marking him this year will fall more to Bartesaghi or Estupinan. I really like Bremer and Lukumi; they are among the best defenders in the league.” Speaking of defenders, Gila has arrived. What do you think of these new signings? “Mario impressed me a lot, he is very strong, and Ramos too. I will get to know the others soon. But I want to specifically mention Sisse: he has really surprised me. He is young, but he looks like he has already played 200 Serie A matches.”

Cardinale will arrive in Turin tomorrow. How important is his presence at the start of the season?

“It is always good when the owner stays so close to the team. We have spoken with him several times, and you can see that he is happy, excited and full of energy, wanting to experience everything firsthand on the front line. Also, he does not want to see another season like last year. He wants to win just like us. We hope to have a good league campaign and also go all the way in the Europa League, because we are AC Milan.”