...

Girona & Pre-Season

“We’re here in Girona, which is close to Barcelona. It’s a beautiful place to focus, and I think it’s perfect for relaxing too.

First training camp of the season. We’re still missing some of the guys who played in the World Cup, but little by little everyone will be here. It’s nice being together with the boys again, especially after such a long holiday. I have to say I missed them.

Before this [camp], we also always have an optional pre-camp in Marbella. The intensity was already obvious from there.

I think one of the reasons we always choose these Spanish destinations is because of the staff and the manager, who’s from Spain. I think everyone, but him especially [Arteta], sees winning the Premier League more as a starting point rather than the end goal, obviously. Hopefully it can be the start of an important cycle.”

The Trip to Argentina & Brazil

“For the first time in a long while, for a number of reasons, I had more time than I normally do and I was able to take this trip that I’d had in mind for a few years. I finally got the chance, and I went first to Argentina and then to Brazil for about two weeks with a friend of mine. There were actually supposed to be three of us, but in the end it was just the two of us. He turned out to be a great travel companion… also because it’s not easy to keep up with my pace [laughs]. I’m a guy who’s always active, I don’t sleep much, especially on holiday, so he did a good job. Yeah, I’d say it was the trip of a lifetime.

I’ve had Argentinian teammates in the past. I don’t have any this year, but I have a lot of Brazilian ones. Both cultures have always fascinated me, especially recently, so I already had an idea of what I was going to experience, but they still managed to surprise me. Two places, two destinations that are pretty close to each other, but completely different. Argentina with its culture, Brazil with its energy… really amazing places.”

The World Cup

“Obviously, I had a bit of a strange relationship with the World Cup, partly because I was busy and partly because I didn’t really want to watch it, so I didn’t see much of it. But I had to watch the last two games, the semi-final and the final, since there were a lot of my teammates there.

I have to say, it was really emotional. I put myself in their shoes and I’m really happy for them. It gave me motivation and hope, in a way, to be able to qualify for a major tournament and experience these moments too. The other two games I watched, I just caught bits of them, one in Buenos Aires and one in Rio de Janeiro. It’s really nice to see it from the outside, to see how much the fans care. Out on the street, even if you don’t want to, you end up watching the game because it’s everywhere.

I’d like to bring a bit of that passion back to Italy too, which was obviously missed a little since we haven’t managed to qualify. It would be really nice to experience these moments together.”

The Team, Winning the PL & Group Chemistry

“As I always say, when a group wins, it’s not just because of talent, but above all because of the chemistry and the kind of people, the kind of men, you have within the group. I think that’s what made us win.

It helps that we’re all more or less the same age, with a lot of young guys. Honestly, there isn’t a single one I don’t like or don’t get along with [laughs]. And then, on the pitch, we’re obviously very focused, but we have fun too. Especially when things are going well, I think it’s the best job in the world, and it’s important to enjoy it.

As a group, one thing that really stuck with me was towards the end of the season. I think it gave us a really good change. It was a moment when we weren’t playing that well, in my opinion, or at least not as well as we could have, and I think it was more of a mental thing. So we had, not exactly a bonfire, but something like that, where everyone talked about their own motivations and where we could improve. And I think that meeting we had really helped us. It gave us that final push to be able to win the Premier League.

Then on the pitch, there were several wins towards the end of the season… I remember the one against Everton. And I think we also have to mention the defeat against City, because at that point they got level on points with us and, actually, they were top at that moment. I think it’s all about how you react to adversity, to negative moments. That was another "click" that helped us win, I think, rather than taking it in a negative way.

From around the sixth or seventh matchday, I think we stayed at the top right until the end. The Premier League isn’t an easy league. You can get to the 36th matchday and be at the top, and maybe you’re playing the team at the bottom at home… every team plays the same way, in the sense that everyone wants to win. There’s no such thing as just wasting time or sitting back and defending, so it makes sense that you end up competing, especially with a team like City, by just a few points. The mentality we had is what made us win. It made the difference.”

Declan Rice

“[Declan Rice] has helped me a lot from the very beginning. We ended up having lockers close to each other, and we’ve also seen each other a lot off the pitch. He’s a great guy and, above all, an incredible player. I really like the fact that he’s such an easygoing guy. I got on with him straight away. Definitely one of my best friends within the group.”

Italian Players in the Premier League

“The Premier League is filling up with Italians [laughs], some big names too, and in a way that makes me happy. With Sandro [Tonali], hopefully it’ll be a good derby [laughs]… I hope to win both of them. Yeah, in a way, I don’t know if I can say it like this, but I’m happy to have him in the same city, even though obviously we’re emotionally very far apart. Two completely opposite teams, and I wish him, Palestra, and all the new arrivals the best. I feel a bit less alone.”

Adapting to Life in London

“I’ve changed so much. I don’t know where I’ve changed and improved more, whether as a person or as a footballer. I’d already left my country to go to another one [Switzerland], but this time it’s even further away, even more alone, and I have to say it wasn’t easy at first. But then I adapted well, and London is a city that has a lot to offer. Off the pitch, I’m happy now.”

Arteta & Improving

“On the pitch, with him [Arteta] and the staff, it’s impossible not to improve. They pay attention to everything. There isn’t a single pass in training that they won’t point out if you don’t play it the right way. Sometimes it’s not easy when they’re that demanding, but it’s definitely the only way to improve. I think he and the staff know how far I can go, maybe even better than I do myself. They see something special in me, and they make me feel that every day. I believe in him a lot and I always try to listen to him. I can see that I’ve already improved a lot, but I want to improve even more.”

Looking Ahead

“What I often say, at least when it comes to me, is that if I can stay available for the whole season, I can be really important for the team. I know it, the others know it. So that’s my goal, and everything else comes from that.