Gueye: When I started in Senegal I was physically lacking, so I ran & ran & ran

Idrissa Gueye has proven himself to be Paris Saint-Germain's lungs this season. He is their Claude Makelele he carries their superstars and provides Thomas Tuchel with something he was missing.

Gueye sat with MARCA to discuss PSG and his own rise.

Are PSG among the best now or do they need to take another step in the Champions League?

They've ben on that path for a long time. They're already a great club without the Champions League, but the history is being built. I hope the Champions League will come this year, we're getting closer.

Is it an obsession?

No because that'd get in the way. It's a clear goal but it's not easy. You can't just wake up European champion. Hopefully it's this year, we don't know, but we're putting everything towards it.

You have a lot of experience, so do you give advice to younger players like Kylian Mbappe?

No, they're all great players and know what they have to do. It's a high level and I've just arrived.

Do you see Mbappe at PSG for a long time or is his future in Paris in danger?

I think he knows what he can do with PSG. He can help us a lot and he has a big future. He's not alone though, we're a team and if we reach the top it'll be as a team.

And Neymar, has he surprised you?

In training, he's even more impressive. He does what he wants. He can do anything with the ball and he's unstoppable.

You see him every day. Is he focused on PSG's project?

He's a good person and I think when he came back from injury he spoke to make things clear. He helps us to win and despite all that was said he's been focused. He's had to be very strong to come through all that he lived through.

Mahamadou Diarra, the only African player to win LaLiga Santander with Madrid, said that African players' strength isn't their physicality, but more of a mental one. Do you agree?

Totally. We come from afar an and you have to endure a lot mentally to come from Africa to Europe. You discover a new continent, a new country. Everything is new and there are so many things that can prevent you from succeeding in your career. You have to be very strong to keep growing and there are so many things that can spoil everything.

Is it still as tough for an African to come to Europe as before?

I don't know. We try to move forward and maybe it's a little easier because our older brothers have already made careers in Europe and have now returned to their countries to help the young players and that's opened doors. They've also allowed for us to fulfil our dreams of playing in Europe.

Thomas Tuchel says that you're tireless and the steel in PSG's team. Is that genetic?

I'm lucky to have been born in Senegal and be Senegalese, but it's not just that and there's work behind it. When I first arrived at the training centre in Senegal I was physically lacking and worked hard.

There's real effort behind it. I worked hard, I didn't rest on holidays, I ran and ran and ran. I loved running. I knew I had to be strong to succeed so every morning on holidays I got up to run.

So when this is over you'll have to try a marathon...

No [laughs], I think I'm going to rest.