Aberdeen star Adil Aouchiche lifts lid on PSG life with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe
Adil Aouchiche mixed it with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in their Champions League pursuit so he's unlikely to be fazed by anything Aberdeen face in the Europa.
The talented playmaker came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain and rubbed shoulders with the Brazilian and French heroes.
The Ligue 1 giants had a galaxy of stars and the midfielder admits it gave him an education money just can't buy.
He moved on to St Etienne, Lorient and Sunderland but it is on this loan spell at Pittodrie where Aouchiche will get his first taste of European football.
While Neymar and Mbappe has their sights locked on the Champions League, the Frenchman's sole focus will be trying to get a first-leg lift in the Europa when play-off foes FCSB pitch up tomorrow.
Aouchiche said: 'The standard at PSG was so high. You want to play with the best players in the world.
'I was 16 or 17, training with Neymar, Mbappe, Thiago Silva – a lot of experience.
'It was good, they were helpful to young players but it was also hard because the level is so high. You have to follow everyone at that level.
'It is not easy. Sometimes you need to follow the process at times. Sometimes you need to go down before you can go up again.
'I am now in a good club to be myself and to show what I can do on the pitch.
'At PSG, the main goal was to win the Champions League so it was a bit stressful for everyone. It was a good step for me to start out there, to experience that level.'
The Dons are guaranteed group-stage football regardless, with the Conference League waiting for them if they fail to negotiate the Romanians. Aouchiche knows the safety net is there but everyone in red wants it to be the Europa League.
The 23-year-old added: 'The European games will be some of the best of the season because everyone has a high objective and wants to play in the Europa League.
'Knowing that Aberdeen were in Europe was a big factor in joining the club, of course. I haven't played in European football before, this will be my first experience of this competition.'
Boss Jimmy Thelin convinced the midfielder to move from the Stadium of Light on loan, with the Dons having the option to buy him for a club-record £1.5million.
Aouchiche revealed playing in Europe was a big factor in him making the move.
He said: 'When I signed, it was first for the project here, for the experience of the kind of games we can play here.
'Europa League or Conference League is a big bonus for me. It will help me and everyone else get to another level. If we can get to the Europa League, there will be some huge clubs and everyone wants to play against these teams.
'We want to see where we are, among the top teams at this level, so it's going to be a really good test for us all.'
Aouchiche is also aware of what European football means to Aberdeen. He only has to look at the two stars on his jersey to show the European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup triumphs under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1980s when they dumped the might of Real Madrid and Hamburg.
The new boy also did his own homework on that before he joined the Dons. He said: 'I knew before coming here that Aberdeen had won European trophies before.
'When I sign for a new club I watch old games and try to know a lot about the history of the club. We have the two stars on the shirt as well and two stars is not for every club, so we're one of the best in Scotland. I am just glad to be here.'
Aouchiche turned to former Aberdeen player Mo Chalali for advice before he made the switch north.
The Algerian told him to go for it and that along with the success his Sunderland team-mate Nectarios Triantis had on loan at Premiership rivals Hibs were persuasive factors.
He added: 'I saw Nectar come to Scotland and do very well, it was really good for him coming up here. We played a lot in training sessions, he's a good player and a good man.
'I saw that this type of profile can show their qualities in the league in Scotland. A lot of clubs want to sign Nectar now, so there is a lot of motivation coming here.'
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