Brecht Dejaegere, what do you make of Toulouse's season so far as you head into the match against Paris Saint-Germain?
"We had a pretty good first half of the season, and now we just need a result our game and create a lot of chances to get points. So we can be happy with our first part of the season."

With the four wins since the start of the New Year, you don't seem to have been disturbed by the World Cup break. How did it go?
"There was more free time for the players than in a normal season, that's true. And that was good for me, to be able to clear my head a bit. Then we had some special preparations. As the break was longer, we had to work a bit harder."

'We never lost confidence in ourselves'

The momentum is on your side as you head to the Parc des Princes to face PSG on Saturday...
"Yes, and the bad run we had at the end of last year was against big teams [defeats against Lens, Monaco, Rennes and OM]. Against Ajaccio at the beginning of January, we found our feet again and we won deservedly. In fact, we never lost confidence in ourselves. Okay, we had a series of defeats, but they were against the big teams of the championship. It's not a negative thing, it was acceptable. That's what we're still missing - a result against a big team, but it will come. Maybe against Paris."

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Toulouse FC are a promoted side this season and you personally are playing your first season in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. How did you adapt?
"The big difference between Ligue 1 Uber Eats and Ligue 2 BKT is that everything goes faster, both in terms of pressing and ball movement. The technique, the tactics - everything goes a bit faster! But in Ligue 2 BKT, those things were also a factor. There is a lot of individual talent. In Ligue 2 BKT, even if you have a little less talent, you can manage to be champion or to get up by playing as a team. Whereas in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, you obviously have to be a team, but you also have to have quality, because without that, it's impossible to succeed."

Which team has impressed you the most so far in Ligue 1 Uber Eats?
"I was really surprised by Lorient! We played them quite early in the season [2-2 in R3], and as they are a team that usually play to beat the drop, I thought they were much better than that in this game at the Stadium. With Enzo Le Fée in the middle, they play really well, same with Terem Moffi [before he left for Nice], who played with my former club in Belgium at Kortrijk."

You wear the captain's armband. What responsibilities does that give you?
"I have always shared my past experiences with my teammates. And I try to pass that on here too, as I am for example the player with the most games in the Champions League (six, in 2015-16 with Gent). Then, as a good captain, I try to set an example, especially when things don't go well. That can give the others more desire and energy. In life, nothing just happens. It doesn't fall from the sky, you have to go and get it. We are a team with little experience in Ligue 1 Uber Eats and with a lot of foreigners. As I said earlier, we just need a result against a big team but I have confidence in the group; it will come."

'The youngsters have a lot of character now'

How do you deal with the age difference with the younger players? And also the fact that the squad has become more international?
"For me it's good, it forces me to stay young in my head [Brecht is 31]. I remember my first year here with Amine Adli, Manu Koné and Nathan Ngoumou, who were always dancing after a victory, it was nice. At that moment, you're not 30 years old in your head anymore, you're like them! It's true that in my first year in Toulouse, we spoke French, and now when I give my speech before the game, it's in English. But I still think it's important for foreign players to speak a bit of French, to have a link with the French players, but also with the fans and to represent the club. We even have players from South America [Ratão and Suazo]. We try to teach them and make them feel comfortable quickly."

Can you tell us about the rise of Farès Chaïbi?
"The first time I met him was in a training session with the B team. I was suspended and had to train with the B team. I told Stjn [Spierings], who was also training, that Farès was a player to watch. For me when you are young, the most important thing is to have the right attitude. If I take my example, when I was young I was quiet in the dressing room. I listened to the older guys. But now the youngsters have a lot of character, they come and talk. I think you have to find a good mix between the two. When I say something, you have to listen to me, but the youngster can also talk to me. And Farès has immediately shown that he wants to learn, that he listens, even if he has a lot of self-confidence. He has a good balance between the two, that's why I think he made a good start to the season."

Is he the player who impresses you the most in the team?
"He is very strong in training. Farès adapted very quickly to the level of Ligue 1 Uber Eats, even though he came from National 3 [D5]. Branco van den Boomen is also a very good player in my opinion, as well as Stijn Spierings. When he wants to, he can be very, very good."