Ivan Perišić (foto: Screenshot)
Croatian international Ivan Perišić has revealed the dedication and hard work that have helped him remain an important player in elite European football at the age of 36.
PSV Eindhoven will host Arsenal tonight in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. The Dutch side already proved their resilience with a stunning victory against Juventus in the qualifiers, showing they are far from underdogs.
One of the key figures in PSV’s recent success is Ivan Perišić, who was instrumental in their triumph over AC Milan in the previous round. The Croatian veteran scored two goals across both legs, but his impact has gone beyond just numbers. His goals, assists, and leadership have been invaluable to a young PSV squad.
Despite PSV’s struggles in the Eredivisie, Perišić is pushing his teammates to rediscover their unity and determination.
“We should be more of a team. We are not fighting for each other, and that makes me angry. From today until the end of the season, we have to give our maximum. The season is not over yet, and we have to do everything to win some trophies. Why are we not a team? We talked about it. We create a lot of chances, but we have to fight for each other. To this day, I can't stand defeat—even if I play football with my son or daughter,” said Perišić.
The Croatian winger also shared the formula behind his remarkable comeback to top-level football at 36.
“I worked 10 to 12 hours a day for several months to get back to playing football. You have to give your all and really do everything it takes to succeed,” he admitted.