Mkhitaryan: I hope to beat Milan and Juventus even in friendly matches; I haven't watched much of the World Cup.

After arriving in Perth with Inter Milan, Mkhitaryan spoke about preparations for the new season and the young players in an interview.

After their match against Manchester City, Inter Milan flew to Perth to face AC Milan and Juventus. Mkhitaryan gave interviews to Inter TV and local media.

Looking back on your long career, how do you feel about maintaining such a high level of performance?

"This is my 20th season in my professional career, and I am very happy about it. It means a lot to me and shows that I may have done everything right in my football career, which is why I have been able to play for so long. I am very happy."

You have many young players around you. How do you view your role in helping them grow, especially since you had more time to spend together and face challenges on this trip?

“At the beginning of this preparation, more than half of the team were young players. I tried my best to set an example for them, to do what I know well, and to show them what they could learn from. Of course, it ultimately depends on whether they are willing to learn, but I will do my best for the team. Now I am the oldest player on the team, which means I have to provide help. I try to do this both on and off the field, giving them advice. But in the end, it depends on them. We are a team, a family, and we need to achieve our goals together.”

Is this your first time in Australia?

"Yes, this is my first time in Australia, especially Perth. It's beautiful here, and I haven't seen much yet, but there's still time."

You've had a long journey, just finished playing Manchester City in Hong Kong, and now you have Milan and Juventus to face. How important are these two strong opponents during the preparation phase for the subsequent Serie A and Champions League season?

"This is an essential part of our preparation for the new season. We've already played Manchester City, and we have two more games to go, against Juventus and Milan. It's all part of the preparation. We'll train hard, improve where we need to, and then play well in those two games. Of course, the results aren't important; these are just friendlies. But winning those two games would be great, and that would prepare us for the new season."

As the defending Serie A champions, do you feel pressure during your preparations? Is it more difficult to be the defending champions because all teams are more motivated to play against you?

“We’re not thinking about defending the title right now; we just want to be ready and prove that last season’s victory was well-deserved. That will certainly give us a huge boost and help us do the same this year.”

You had some interaction with Australian prodigy Walpato when you were in Rome, do you remember him?

“Yes, I remember him. He came from the youth academy, and his talent impressed me. Later I went to Inter Milan, and he went to Sassuolo. He is very talented and a good player. He proved that last season at Sassuolo, scoring several goals and helping the team achieve its goals.”

Were you surprised by his later development? After much consideration, he chose to play for Australia and even participated in the World Cup. He's the kind of technically gifted player that Australia doesn't often produce. How difficult do you think it will be for him to establish himself in Italy?

"It depends on him. He needs to walk his own path and create his own story. I can't say whether it's difficult or easy; it all depends on him. I didn't watch many World Cup matches; I was on vacation and wanted to enjoy my holiday and relax from football. You can't always watch football; sometimes you need to stop, clear your mind, recharge, and then start again."