Benoît Cheyrou accepted to give us a long interview at the start of this new season. In this first part, the OM player of the month for August speaks about his "award" and his status as an "old head" at the heart of the OM squad.

Benoît, you were elected OM player of the month for August by the readers of OM.net, do you appreciate this kind of distinction?
Yes, as it cvomes from the public and those people who love OM. It’s nice, especially as I was voted OM player of the year during the holidays. It’s touching ad I always try to remain as natural as possible. My calm and reserved temperament is often mentioned and I was told that things here were less calm. I have proven that even staying yourself, you can be appreciated by the Marseille public.

We get the impression that you have picked up this season were you left off at the end of the last one, do you feel the same?
We’ve started well as a team. When the team is playing well, it is easier for individualities to stand out. For the moment things are going well.

Your contract extension took time to be finalised this summer, was there any hesitation on your side about continuing the adventure with OM?
I met Didier Deschamps very quickly and that was very important in helping me make my decision. I had to see if everyone at the club wanted me to stay at Olympique de Marseille. That was the case, which made everything else simple.

" I have proven that even staying yourself, you can be appreciated by the Marseille public "

A lot has been made of OM’s physical impact this season, have you felt a certain change?
One thing is for sure, when you look at the average height of the players this season compared to last season, there has been a change. We’ve gained height this season, it’s important but not essential.

Do you think it was something that the team lacked last season?
I feel that smaller or less muscular players also have something important to bring the team. However, when you look at the top teams around Europe, there are often a lot more physically strong players.

You are one of the sole survivors of last seasons midfield, do you feel you have extra responsibility in view of that?
No, but it’s always said that the new recruits will come in to shake the players who have been in the squad for a while. What mustn’t be forgotten is that those players have participated in and influenced the consolidation and the results of the club over the last few seasons. They should be accepted and respected for that. What is important, whether it is old or new players, is that the team plays well together. So far, that is happening this season.

With your experience of the club, do you advise or talk with your new colleagues in the midfield like Abriel or Cissé?
Not more to them than any others. We have to speak at all levels to help new recruits understand how the club works and help create automatisms more quickly. In that sense, communication is a great tool.

"Players like Edouard Cissé or Fabrice Abriel show that the team can perform even when there are absentees "

Lucho will soon be back in competition, what do you think he can bring to the side?
His technique and ability to be decisive. He scores a lot and distills a great number of decisive passes, he will also bring his experience of the highest level of football.

A midfield which brings together the strength of Mbia and technicians like Lucho and yourself, can be great for the team …
Yes, I think that we can be complimentary, but there are also players like Edouard Cissé or Fabrice Abriel show that the team can perform even when there are absentees. That just shows the quality of the OM squad even when the first choice players are not available. It’s something that will be very important over the course of the season.

You have often tried your luck from distance since the start of the season and it has succeeded, like against Grenoble, is it an instruction or something that has just come from you?
I’m shooting more as I am playing closer to goal this season. That is down to the system, as last season when we played with two defensive midfielders it was difficult to try and get forward to shoot without affecting the balance of the side. This season, with one player sitting in front of the defence, it is easier for the other two midfielders. It’s part of our role and I have to admit that I enjoy it.