Before Saturday's game between Bordeaux and OM, the 2nd and 3rd placed teams of last season, we brought together two left wingers for a joint interview.
How is the atmosphere in the squad at the moment?
It’s good as we’re all pleased with our start to the season. Last year it was terrible and that cost us at the end of the season. This year we have started off well. It was very important for the supporters but also for us that we qualified for the Champions League. Our objectives for the start of the season have been achieved. It’s good but now we are moving up a level and the League still has a long way to go. A League is not won over 4 or 5 matches …
The atmosphere is good. All the players feel involved. We are confident and we have to keep this frame of mind. We’re unbeaten at home with 2 wins in 2 games, we have to keep going. When you look at our form on the road, we have to be iireproachable at Chaban-Delmas, especially against Marseille.
What are your ambitions for Saturdays game?
OM’s objective is always to win. If we go to Bordeaux looking for a win, then maybe we can come back with a draw or even a victory … You never know.The team’s mentality is always turned towards victory.
The three points. We have a duty to win. Marseille have a great forward line with some great footballers. I think Marseille have a better team than last year. We just have to play the way we usually play, not taking too many risks so that we can win.
What do you think you have to do to upset your opponents?
We have a few ideas for that …Bordeaux are a very well organised team and we will have to concentrate on details to try and break through.
We can’t give them any space. They play very quickly with pacy players who adore breaking into space. We have to impose pour game, pour style. Marseille are a quality team. In order to win we will have to defend well and not concede any goals. Even if we could win 1-0, it would be perfect. We have to score first, if we want to win.
Marseille seem to have more confidence after the season’s early results, but it’s been 30 years since OM won away to Bordeaux. Could this influence the game?
I don’t think so as these games against Bordeaux, Lyon or Paris are there to build up confidence. After this type of match, if the result is positive, you can kick on with a good run. Before the game, you can’t say that the result is a foregone conclusion because one side is better than the other. It doesn’t work like that. On top of that, Bordeaux, at home, will want to put on a performance.
Of course, this invincibility is something that will give us extra motivation. We’d like to extend it by another year and make it 31. It’s going to be a difficult game but we have a lot of quality on our side.
What are the strengths of your opponents?
They are a good team with a good coach. I know him as he played at a very high level, I even came across him as a player. He is very respected and his players listen to him. It’s not for nothing that his side had such an incredible season last year. They are a quality side and it’s great to play against them.
The main strength of this side is their attacking force. Koné, Ben Arfa, Niang are a very pacy and impressive trio. They can break through your defence at any moment. They have had a great start to the season. As far as we are concerned, we have to find our form of the second half of last season.
