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After a strong start to the season, and with a big game coming up, Strahinja Pavlovic was interviewed by Tuttosport about his form and the recent team success. Pavlovic has been one of the key players for Milan so far this season, cementing his spot on the left in the back three. It seems that Ruben Amorim’s playing style suits him too after making the most of his trademark runs and strong defending in the first two games. Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial! However, one of the biggest games of the campaign now awaits the Serbian and his teammates, as they will be up against Juventus away from home. With that in mind, the Turin-based Tuttosport managed to get an interview with him (via MilanNews). It was mostly focused on the start as a whole though, as well as Pavlovic’s own situation, with no question about the game tomorrow evening. Nevertheless, the centre-back appears to be really happy at the club. Pavlovic’s interview with Tuttosport Pavlovic, your third season with Milan has begun. Considering the comings and goings of recent seasons, we can now consider you a veteran… “I really like being here and I feel great in Milan, a city where I have settled in well with my family, even though since my son was born, I have split my time between home and Milanello.” Did any team try to convince you to leave Milan this summer? “Opportunities are always there, every summer, and they happen to all players. But I didn’t want to leave. When I first spoke to Amorim, I realised I was an important player for him. A renewal? I’m happy here and I want to stay.” How has Amorim’s impact been in the locker room? “He’s still a young coach, I like him because you can tell he understands what the players think and feel. On the pitch, as he should be, he’s tough and demands the best, but off it, he’s a kind and friendly person.” The Portuguese coach has very different tactical demands from Massimiliano Allegri: is it difficult to change your style of playing? “We are all professionals, and to a greater or lesser extent, we have had different coaches throughout our careers, with different working methods. We need time to learn, but I think after two months, we are already seeing improvements. Last season, you explained how important Allegri was in your development as a defender… “Absolutely. I think it’s crucial for a defender to gain experience in Italy, and Allegri is one of the best coaches at teaching defending. With Amorim, we play more with the ball, and I will definitely be able to improve in other areas.” You were used to having an offensive-minded coach like Jaissle at Salzburg. Do you see any similarities? “I have to say they are similar in some ways. I’m thinking about the off-the-ball setup and constant pressing. But then other things are different. With Amorim, we defend with three men, while with Jaissle, we played with four men.” With Torino and Venezia, you were less open with the ball than you were with Allegri. Was this a request from Amorim? “The game has changed. Before, we were deep and started counterattacks, now we play higher up, and I have more space to cover behind me. “If before I could attack, knowing I had more teammates behind me, now I know that if I move forward, I can expose my zone. Also, after two years, the opponents know my characteristics, so it’s harder to surprise them.” So will you score fewer goals? “Look, even if I never score and we win every game, that’s fine.” Speaking again about Allegri and last season: have you found an explanation for the collapse of the last few months? “It’s difficult to explain. Even I still don’t understand what happened against Cagliari on the last day: we were at home, in front of our fans, against a team that was already safe. As Allegri used to say, football was invented by the Devils. “However, I think it all started with the defeat against Lazio after the victory in the second leg of the derby. It was the decisive match to try to get back into the Scudetto race, but instead we lost, and I think there was a mental backlash. “Plus, we thought we were guaranteed a place in the Champions League, and we lowered our concentration.”