Best passer of last season, Lucho Gonzalez has high hopes for this season: to be champions of France again and to get out of the group stage of the Champions League. With in the back of his mind, the desire to return to the Argentina squad...

After a year at OM, could this season be Lucho’s year?
I hope first and foremost that it will be OM’s year! If it could be OM and Lucho’s year, it would be fantastic! I do, however, prefer talking about the team rather than individuals. Last year, the individual level of the team was very good, but one single player cannot make the difference except Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Today, we have the players to make the difference but it is not individualities that make the team, rather the opposite.

I’d like to take advantage of this situation to thank him for the welcome he gave me when I arrived at OM. I wish him all the best in Turkey

Do you think that the team is capable of doing better than last season?
Of course everyone hopes that we will be better than last year. What is important is to do as well, but we will see what is possible as the season goes by. Our objective is to win the Leagu again and to do better in the Champions League.

Did you doubt at all during the transfer window with the departures of important players like Niang or Ben Arfa?
It was a difficult period, especially at OM where times are always complicated. Between the arrivals, the departures and the players who wanted to leave, it is difficult to deal with these moments. But, I never doubted, I’m very happy to continue the adventure with Marseille.

Were you surprised by the departure of Mamadou Niang?
Niang was an important player for the group. It was a great opportunity for him and when you receive a proposition like that you have to study it. I respect his decision. I’d like to take advantage of this situation to thank him for the welcome he gave me when I arrived at OM. I wish him all the best in Turkey.

Argentina has many great players and to have a chance to be called up, I will have to give my best with my club. I will give everything that I have to get back into the national team

What do you think of the two offensive recruits?
They are two international players, they know the French league very well and that is an advantage. We have to make them feel at home as quickly as possible. Last Sunday against Bordeaux, Loïc Rémy put in a very good performance. André-Pierre Gignac has a lot of experience of the L1, he put in some great performances with Toulouse and I think he will be a success with the team. They have different characteristics. Loïc prefers to play deep, that will change our way of playing but we have training in which to fine tune our understanding.

Is the team stronger this season?
Each year is different. I think it will be difficult to win three trophies. It was an exceptional experience. Even if we have lost Niang and Ben Arfa who are two great players, the team has been reinforced. Everything depends on us, we have a squad that possesses all the qualities necessary to respond to expectations and perform in all competitions.

What did you think of the World Cup and how do you see your international future?
Just like all Argentineans, I had great hopes for the World Cup. We started well, we put in a good group stage but the match against Germany was difficult. On a personal level, Argentina has many great players and to have a chance to be called up, I will have to give my best with my club. I will give everything that I have to get back into the national team.