Lucas Moura says Paris Saint-Germain are the main beneficiary of his battle with Edinson Cavani for a place in the French champions' starting XI.
Lucas, 23, admitted earlier this season that he found it difficult to watch more of PSG's big matches from the bench following the arrival of Angel Di Maria in the summer.
PSG manager Laurent Blanc warned the Brazilian attacking midfielder that he would have to be more consistent and the player has responded by appearing to move ahead of Uruguayan striker Cavani in the pecking order.
Now in his fourth season at the club, Lucas has scored eight goals in all competitions -- matching his previous best tally.
The former Sao Paulo player has now made five starts in a row in the league and says Cavani, 28, will have to rise to the challenge.
"He's an incredible person and I'm very close to him," Lucas told Telefoot. "But it's football and that's what football is like. We have to work to get our place back and never give up. That's the way it is.
"One day you're on the top, the next things don't go well for you. That's down to competition. But I think that the winner in all of that is Paris Saint-Germain."
Blanc did individual work with Lucas this season in a bid to improve his game, particularly when it comes to using his speed when the ball is not at his feet in order to help the team.
Lucas says that that kind of special attention has been worth it.
"The most difficult thing to happen when you're starting is to stay [in the team]," he said. "Now I have to prove every match that I'm capable of being there.
"When he does specific work with me, that means that I'm important. It gives me confidence. I think that I understood completely what the coach wants from me."