This week it was Ivanovic’s turn to take part in Chelsea’s weekend interview, Ivanovic started by assessing Chelsea’s start and how we need to keep it up.
‘It’s a great feeling to be a part of this team and, yes, we’ve started well, but we haven’t won anything yet. We’re not even halfway through the season so it’s important we stay focused and stay aware of the situation we’re in because this is a tough league and every game is difficult.’
‘We need to keep our performances at a high standard for the whole of the season.’
‘We’ve looked good up to now but we can still improve, we have the quality to do that.’
He then talks about how a tight and organised defence can help the team.
‘We always try to stay strong defensively because it gives a lot to the team. It’s important we are co-ordinated and in tune with what each other is doing, but that doesn’t just go for the defenders, it’s everybody.
It’s very important for the full-backs to have a good balance with the team. It’s good, as a right-back, to keep an eye on the opposite side of the pitch. What’s great for us is that one of us can always go forward, it doesn’t matter who is playing, and that helps the team from an attacking point of view because it creates spaces for the wide players and midfielders. The two deep midfielders are also very important.’
Ivanovic concludes the interview, telling the Chelsea website how crucial the Christmas period can be.
‘It’s very important for us to be a team, a squad. Every player knows that at this time of year, with so many matches to play, there will be a chance, so you have to be ready to show what you can do. We know everybody here has lots of quality and this is probably the most important period of the season so we have to prove it.’
