Aleksandar, how did you celebrate Christmas?
I was in Dubai with my wife while my mother was looking after our son Petar in Frankfurt.
How old is Petar?
He is one year old.
Were you able to recharge the batteries during the short winter break?
Yes, I relaxed a lot. We often went to the beach, Dubai is beautiful.
Did you train during the winter break?
Yes. Michael Fabacher [rehab coach] gave me a schedule to work with. I went to the gym and used the treadmill.
Do you still have problems with your knee or have you recovered full stop?
There are no more problems with my knee.
Was the winter break too short, do you prefer to have a longer holiday in the summer?
I prefer to have a long break in the summer. In fact I would not mind having no break at all in the winter.
What are your new year resolutions?
Most of all to stay fit. I would like to play as many games as possible.
Your contract with Eintracht is running out in the summer. What will happen after that? Would you like to stay in Frankfurt?
I would like to continue playing for Eintracht, I like it very much here. But we will have to wait and see what happens.
With regular appearances for Eintracht the Macedonian national team might call on you again soon?
I will also wait and see on this one. It is likely that I will talk to the national coach in one or two months about whether it makes sense to continue playing for my country. After all I am 31 years old now.
You had to overcome a lot of injuries in the past. Did you ever consider retiring?
No. I like playing football too much to abandon hope. During rehab – which was really tough – I always believed in my comeback.
What do you do in your free time?
I am a family man and gain a lot of strength from my family.
Who sits next to you on the team bus?
It is Ümit Korkmaz most of the times.
How do you kill time during travels with the team?
I read books, mostly thrillers.
And who do you usually share hotel rooms with?
Recently my room mate was Martin Fenin, sometimes also Nikola Petkovic.
What do players talk about on the night before a game?
With Martin I chat a lot about personal things, hardly about the upcoming game or the opponent.
Is the season target of 50 points realistic?
Yes, I think so. We are competitive enough to collect as many points as in the first half of the season which would be enough to get 50 points. It will be hard, but we believe in ourselves.
You like proverbs – which one is your favourite one?
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
Do you believe in god?
Yes, I do.
Do you pray a lot?
Not too often. But when I do I pray for health for my family and me.
How did becoming a father affect you?
Very much. Being a father is the greatest of all feelings and children are the greatest fortune on earth.
