I came to Paris from my hometown of Pescara four-and-a-half years ago in the hope of winning this competition, which is the biggest there is. Winning it means so much to a club because it is a competition between the best clubs in Europe.
The Champions League is a very difficult competition to win, but our target here in Paris is to win it as soon as possible. It is the club of the city, which is rare in a capital, and so you know that you have all Parisians behind you. I came here to win the Champions League, even if it will take time because it is a club which has a very new project.
From my first four seasons in the Champions League, there are two memories which stand out.
Strangely, my best memory from the Champions League is a defeat against Barcelona during my first year, when Carlo Ancelotti was the coach. It was a sense of pride for myself and my team-mates that we were able to rattle the best team in the world.
We played a great game and were still ahead with about 15 minutes left. We were proud because we had given it our best and that is the most important thing in football. Afterwards, if you lose against someone who is better than you, then you have to admit it. But that night I realised that I had arrived at a very high level.
My worst memory is the game that we lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in 2013-2014, after we had won 3-1 at home. We conceded a goal three minutes from the end and that was very hard to take. I still think back to it now and it still hurts.
We have experienced some memorable moments with the club so far. There are moments that have thrilled us, made us jump, laugh and even cry. I don’t know if it makes you do the same thing at home, but the Champions League music... the first time I heard that, I had to pinch myself to realise that I was on the pitch and not on the sofa at my house in Pescara. It was a great emotion for me. I've always wanted to feel that emotion because it means you are playing for a great team.
It should never be forgotten that football is entertainment. I know there are things happening in football that fans don’t like and we sometimes forget that this is only a game, a show. For 90 minutes, people want to forget their lives and see some amazing things in a stadium. I see football as a game and I have never changed my vision of this sport.
While my best memory of the Champions League came from being eliminated, you can expect me to do everything to change that and turn defeat into victory as soon as possible.
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