After 9 seasons at Le Mans, Laurent Bonnart has come to Olympique de Marseilles. He is focused and dedicated in training as well as his daily life. Between training sessions at Capbreton, he chatted with OM.net. Interview.

How are preparations coming along?
Personally and collectively, everything is going. I’m getting into the Marseille scene, which is very different from the Sarthe. I’m getting to know the players and staff and the different habits here.

How was your welcome here?
Very warm. Between the players and the staff, that’s a lot of people, and I think we have to create an open atmosphere because this club has an enormous aura everywhere you go. When it’s going badly, we have to stick together, and when it’s going well, we have to stay humble.

I sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. It was kind of funny even though there was no subtext regarding Lyon. Maybe some people took it like that, but that wasn’t the intention.

There’s a tradition for all the newcomers to the squad…
(Cuts in) The song? (Laughs) I sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. It was kind of funny even though there was no subtext regarding Lyon. Maybe some people took it like that, but that wasn’t the intention. I like it, I think it’s funny. Everyone sang along. At Le Mans, newcomers have to make a welcome speech.

You were a starter for the first practice match, against Libourne. How did you feel?
Even though we prepared well, you never know how a game is going to go. Physically it was rather tough, which is normal, we’re at the start of the season and train twice a day. On the other hand, what we really needed to look at was our spirits on the pitch, how we used out technique to get into the match without making ourselves suffer physically. All in all it was pretty good, even though it wasn’t prefect, but that’s understandable from a tactical point of view, as our squad isn’t complete yet.
Personally, I found my legs in the second half. Given the work we’ve done, the legs loosened with time. It’s a great stage of preparation.

How was the communication with the other 3 defenders? I guess you all speak the same language…
Playing with people of many nationalities can break down communication in your team. That happened to me one season at Le Mans, when the four defenders spoke four different languages. It wasn’t easy.
It’s not always necessary to talk but communication is important. Like with Gaël Givet – we pass each other information all the time, because no-one can look over their shoulder the whole match. It makes us a better, tighter team.

I want to play the maximum of games but I know that depends on my performances, our fixtures and the manager’s choice.

What are the big differences in your experiences at Le Mans and OM so far?
Everything… At Le Mans, I was in a different position; I had grown up there, I knew everyone. Now, I’m discovering a new scenario: players, staff. At Le Mans Frédéric Hantz ran the whole sho whereas here there are different people in charge of different areas.
Also, I have to get to know the players, whereas at Le Mans, I knew them all really well and was great friends with some of them. But here, so far, the impression is good.

What are your objectives at OM this season?
I came here to bring my all to the squad… and to myself as I left Le Mans to find an extra challenge. 9 years is enough. I aim to become a part of the life of the squad, bringing my humour and know-how to the party. On the pitch I want to play the maximum of games but I know that depends on my performances, our fixtures and the manager’s choice. I will do everything to bring satisfaction to this club.

At OM, you’re not here to lose, you’re here to win.

Does the prospect of Champions League football get the butterflies going?
It’s near and far at the same time… Our priority is the doing well in the league and then in the cups. We haven’t spoken much of the Champions League yet, but the butterflies come whenever I think of the first match. I’ve seen more of it on the TV than as a player, but you mustn’t make too much of it. It’s an awesome competition and we’ll have to be at 120%.

After the Libourne match, you spoke about conquering spirit. Is a winning culture important to you?
Even in friendly matches, you have to have the upper hand. It’s like eating or training, it makes it easier on match days. Also, at OM, you’re not here to lose, you’re here to win. Maybe they’re just simple words, but you have to give everything.

What do you do to focus before a match?
I don’t have any real habits. Focus comes from talking before the match. I take on all the instructions then I relax and listen to music before going on. In the stadium, I joke around, making sure I don’t play the match out in my head beforehand, which is often bad.

Routine, that’s the downside of sport.

You aren’t in a bubble before a match?
No. At Le Mans, I knew which players I could joke with before the game and which ones to leave alone. That’ll come with time here as well. Positive pressure arrives by itself, especially here at OM where you can expect to be playing in front of 60,000 people at the Vélodrome or in packed houses around the country.

What do you do in the spare time you get at this training camp?
Usually it’s eating or sleeping, But I like tennis, so I’ve been checking out Wimbledon, when it’s not raining. In the evening, we play pool or pétanque. On Sunday we went for a walk at the old port in Capbreton. It’s good to get out of the room.
The camp is going quickly and that’s a good sign. There’s rhythm but no routine. Routine, that’s the downside of sport.

Have you had a chance to explore Marseille? To find somewhere to live?
No, not really. I’ve only had 3 days there and that was spent between training and the hotel. I made some appointments to look at houses. I’ll use the time I have when we get back from the camp to find a place. It’s important to have somewhere to relax after training.
I’ll also have some time to discover the city of Marseille. I know the Côte d’Azur a bit but Marseille, not so much.