36-year-old Mkhitaryan: Magic Flute can still maintain top level playing for three or four years, Inter Milan is close to finishing

. I think he can play at the top level for another three or four years. This also motivates me to keep going. I'm not talking about my expiring contract, generally I want to play football for as long as possible. But there is one condition for all this: I can still contribute to the team. When I feel like I don’t have the same power, I say goodbye and thank you. "

Inter usually start the season as favorites, but this year are already playing catch-up: does that change anything?

"It's just a mental game between the teams to reduce or put pressure on them. Ultimately, everyone wants and can win the league. Look at the standings: after six rounds, five or six teams are ranked at the front. Does anyone want to withdraw from the competition? Napoli won the title last year but we can't deny that we are also among the favourites. It won't be easy, but we will do our best to win back the championship. "

Can this round of away games against Roma and Naples show the world your true level?

"No, two games are not enough. Just like the previous two losses were not representative. This is a process and all I can say is that we are preparing to reap the fruits. The growth of the team is obvious and we are not far from completing the puzzle: just a few small details need to be corrected to finally make it work. But a team, like a player, will always experience lows, not just highs. It is important to stay united as a team and as individuals. "

After experiencing the regrets against Naples and the loss to Monaco, is the desire for revenge in the European arena stronger, or the desire for the league championship more urgently?

"Negative events in life should not knock you down, but should make you stronger. You must think positively, work harder, and improve yourself. For example, no one should think from the start that we will never have a chance to compete for the Champions League final again. On the contrary, you have to want to try again, with a stronger desire. "

Do you regret never getting (perhaps unfairly) the same attention as those top stars?

"Everyone has their own preference. I just play for fun, for the love of football, life and myself. If I am satisfied with myself, that is enough. As for whether others rank me in the top ten or the top one hundred, I don't care. Of course, if I wasn't good enough, I wouldn't be playing at the clubs I played for. "

Of the five languages ​​you have mastered, in which one do you "think" in when you are on the field?

"In the language of football, it is unique and universal. Other languages ​​are used to translate things for other people, even in team scrims, because I want to win those games too. "

Then choose a word that means something to all of your "native languages."

"I just say... life. Life. Vie. In Armenian it is kyankʿ and in Russian it is žiznʹ. My life is in football, I am happy here and I want to stay here. "

The word "invincible" you once said has become a heavy burden, but last season you also said: "Sometimes we feel that we are too strong and not focused enough..."

"Yes, this is an obvious problem. We lost some points because subconsciously we may think that we can win no matter what. We are working on this together with the coach: we want to avoid making the same mistake again. However, I still think that if we train well and sacrifice for it, anything is really possible for Inter. This is not arrogance, but a desire. "