Hugs are back ?

Hi everyone!

I’m back, we are back :-). After quite a few weeks since the last entry, it’s time for me to restart writing, to spend some time on Sunday nights in front of my computer to tell you how the week has been for me. I’ve been doing this for five years now, during the season, and I find it very satisfying for two reasons mainly: it’s a quiet moment of the week when you can get some time to reflect on many things, and I also know that you’re looking forward to read this, or at least that’s what I get from your messages on the social media. Especially if the day has been like this one at Old Trafford. When you are working in the pre-season you know you must get ready for the official games. By August you can’t wait any more for the Premier League to start. The first of our list of fixtures was at home, in front of our fans, and we couldn’t have had a better start. The team worked harmoniously, we had some spells of great football and our shots on goal were good. Personally, I enjoyed myself on the pitch and I believe all my team-mates did the same. Some of them (Nemanja and Romelu) made their debut as Reds in the Theatre of Dreams and I’m sure they will always keep very nice memories of this day. Same as I do with my game against Cardiff, already a few years ago.

It was a joy to have a game like this one, we needed it after failing to win the first title of the season in Skopje. I was really pleased to see our fans happy after the game, on their way home, and also your reactions on the social media, of course. I hope we can have many more games like that, even better if they are 37 :-). Obviously we know it will be complicated, because this is the toughest league in the world and every single game is a difficult test. These are the first three points, and they will be even more important at the end of the season.

Also, the year is going to be specially exciting because we are back in the Champions League, and we don’t forget the two Cups, of course. That’s a lot of things to fight for, as usual, so we have to go little by little, stay together and work tirelessly. That’s how you get to your long-term goals.

It works in almost every aspect of life. Over the last few days, many of you have asked me about Common Goal, the project we have just launched together with streetfootballworld. We have a very clear idea of what we want to do, and it’s something I strongly believe in: using the unique power of football to try to change the world and to help improve the lives of millions of people around the world. It may sound complicated, or remote, but we want to make it happen.

I feel very optimistic about other colleagues getting involved worldwide. I will keep you posted 😉 So far the idea has had a great reception. Thank you so much :-). If you want to learn more about this project, you can visit http://www.common-goal.org/‎

It’s time to sign off. Not bad for the first day… ;-). Thank you very much for being there, I hope I won’t be too boring this season! :-).

Have a nice week. Hugs,