Serge: "Defend together, fight together, this is the best way"

Mentality, togetherness - key words for Serge Aurier, who wants to take our level of performance against Manchester City into an important Matchday Four of the UEFA Europa League against Ludogorets on Thursday night (8pm).

Serge played his part in a magnificent team display to topple City in the Premier League on Saturday. We were so resolute, front to back, to keep City at bay and then take our chances as Heung-Min Son and Gio Lo Celso fired us to the top of the league.

It’s back to European business this week, and the Ivory Coast captain wants a seamless transition between matches as we take on the Bulgarian champions and aim for top spot in Group J.

Speaking to us at a special photoshoot for our Official Formalwear Partners, HUGO BOSS, on Tuesday, Serge was naturally in good spirits.

“I’m good, I’m good, we’re all happy after this big, big, big win,” he said. “We have to keep going, to fight, and we have another big game (at Chelsea) on Sunday, but first, an important game in the Europa League.

“We have to keep this mentality. In the game against City, my feeling was, ‘today, we don’t concede a goal’ because we were so strong, all together... defend together, fight together, this is the best way, because when you want to get the best results, you have to be together.

“If we win this game against Ludogorets, we have the chance to finish first in the group. We have two more games, but we’ll be in the best way.

“We played well against City, now it’s a different competition, but we have to keep the same mentality, the same intensity, then hopefully we win, and we take that confidence to Stamford Bridge.

“Chelsea are a good team, good young players, but we will fight again, like we did against City. Everyone knows we have to keep this mentality if we want to win something this season. We have to work together. Thursday, Sunday, we go again together.”