Gabriel Heinze gave us a long interview this week. In this first installment, the Argentine defender speaks about the start of his OM career, his understanding with Diawara, his character and his friend Lucho.

Gaby, two month after your arrival, how are things going at OM?
Everything is fine. We’ve started well and have only lost one match in the L1. The only poor result was in the Champions League, but on the whole everything is good.

You didn’t play in any of the friendly matches and started directly against Grenoble, with things going well straight away, did that surprise you?
It’s football, it’s not complicated. Its the same in Spain, England and France, only the rhythm changes. I already had experience of the French league so I knew there would be no problem. I was just lacking a little match fitness but I’d already gone though pre-season with Real Madrid. On top of that, all my team-mates did everything to help me adapt. I’d like to thank them for that.

What do you think about your partner in the centre of defence, Souleymane Diawara?
He’s a great player and that has been recognised in France for a long time. He is a reigning champion with Bordeaux which shows the great qualities that he has. He came to Marseille to win more trophies. He is physically strong and is a good listener who always wants to progress. It’s good for him and for me. But, it is not just about Gaby and Souley. There is also Julien Rodriguez or Vito Hilton who can come in and play. For the moment we have the coach’s confidence, but that can change. The squad is the most important, not individual players.

"There are eleven of us, we attack as eleven and defend as eleven "

Does Souley remind you of any of the other players you have lined up alongside like Pepe or Rio Ferdinand?
I feel good with Souley. We both have strong characters and play each ball as if it was the last one. But, he is different from all the other guys I have played with. They all have their qualities, but I can tell you that Souley is a top class defender.

You have conceded two goals in six L1 matches, is the defence in top form or can you still get better?
We can always get better, whether it be in life or football. But, as I always say, it’s not down to the defence if we conced goals. The whole squad and each player is involved during the match. It’s not just the job of the four defenders. There are eleven of us, we attack as eleven and defend as eleven. If we manage to play that way, then we will be doing a good job.

Before your arrival, OM had another Argentinean defender, Renato Civelli, who had the same desire as you, how can you explain this characterisic of the players that come from your country?
I don’t know really … I suppose that from an early age we want to get into everything and defenders often have this strong character in Argentina. It’s in our blood, but I can’t really explain it. There is a tradition in my country from Passarella to Ruggeri and on to Ayala. They were all defenders with strong characters and now it is up to us to continue this tradition.

"As far as I’m concerned, Lucho hasn’t put in a great performance yet. I know him and I know exactly what he can bring to the squad "

There is another of your compatriots at OM, Lucho Gonzalez, what can you tell us about the man and the player?
He’s a great guy. I’ve known him for a long time and have often played alongside him for Argentina. He’s a regular guy, but a devoted professional.
As a player you have seen him on the TV and in training: he can do whatever he wants. But, he won’t be able to win matches for us by himself, we cannot put too much pressure on him. It’s up to us to give him the tranquility which will allow him to do his job.

He put in his best performance with OM against Montpellier, but do you think he can bring even more to the team?
Of course. As far as I’m concerned, Lucho hasn’t put in a great performance yet. I know him and I know exactly what he can bring to the squad.

Do you appreciate having a fellow Argentine at the club?
Yes, it was something that helped me make my mind up to come here. I spoke with him beforehand and we get on really well. Often players train together bt don’t socialise outside of the club, but Lucho and I see a lot of each other.

There are more and more Argentineans in France this season with Lisandro or Bergessio and Fernandez at Saint-Etienne, is France becoming a fashionable destination for players from your country?
There hve always been Argentineans in France, even if it is true there are a few more this season. It shows that we work hard and are professional, that is why people recruit Argentineans.

READ THE SECOND PART OF THE INTERVIEW ON FRIDAY FROM NOON