Samir Nasri granted OMtv a long interview. The young midfielder, suffering from the flu and meningitis just a few weeks ago, is determined not to rush things.

How are you going?
Fine, I’ve recovered well. I’m happy to be back in training with my team-mates. I’m a bit tired but very happy.

What exactly happened to you?
At first we thought it was sinusitis, but then I started vomiting, the night before the Auxerre match. I went to hospital and after they did a lumbar puncture, they realised it was a meningeal syndrome.

You said you were experiencing headaches on the day of the Besiktas match…
I had a high fever the night before the match. The doctor treated me and the day of the match was fine. I played normally, but along with the fatigue the day after I began to feel pretty terrible.

This has been your first extended absence from football. How has it been?
You have to take it on the chin because these things happen. Unfortunately it happened at the start of the season but the most important thing is to have faith and take time to come back. It’s been a tough start to the season; I sprained my ankle and then came back as quickly as I could to help the team through its mixed start to the season. But this was a mistake and I went through a lot of pain and fatigue as a result. Then I got this virus. I’m going to take all the time necessary to bounce back properly.

You said that basically you’re back to square one in terms of preparation…
Yeah it’s square one again because I started pre-season a week late anyway. Even though I worked hard in the holidays, I came back from injury too quickly so I haven’t had the same preparation as the rest of the squad. I was motionless in a hospital for 10 days., so I really net to get my rhythm back.

“The crucial thing for me is to get back to my best and put this behind me once and for all”

You’re back in training now. What kind of shape are you in?
I came back on Friday and did some walking with avec Dominique Cuperly. On Sunday I started attacking, so I’ve been training for a few days now morning and afternoon and I’m getting my preparation under way.

Do you know when you’ll be fit to play?
I’m not setting any deadlines or objectives. The crucial thing for me is to get back to my best and put this behind me once and for all.

“Albert Emon’s departure was emotional for me”

A lot has happened in your absence. Albert Emon left the manager’s job…
My dad told me one morning at the hospital that Albert had been stood down. It was emotional for me as it was partly thanks to him that I got to where I am today. He had faith in me, always supported and encouraged me. His departure was emotional for me and I wished all the best over the phone.

What was it like for you?
It’s tough. In these cases, it’s always the manager gets the chop whereas the real culprits are the guys on the field. You feel a bit guilty but you can’t get melodramatic about it. We’re in a tight spot in the league and we need to move forward.

How do you explain OM’s start to the season?
Maybe we thought we were better than we are after our pre-season matches, we didn’t show the teamwork that was our strength last season. Now, we’re playing as a tighter unit, more as a team. That’s what tripped us up at the start of the season and unfortunately we didn’t get the confidence boost we needed to set us on the right track again.

Was the team’s morale affected?
It��s really a mental problem because we have the technical quality; it’s in terms of our mentality that we need to improve.

“Eric Gerets is the man for the job because he is very rigorous”

How is the squad dealing with being in the relegation zone?
It’s pretty hard to handle. You can’t let doubt creep in despite the tough spot we’re in. A club like OM should never find itself in this kind of position. We need to take responsibility, boost our confidence and play as a team.

You met Eric Gerets on Friday. How was it?
Terrific. He makes things very clear, about what he expects from me and from the side. He is the man for the job because he is very rigorous. He works hard tactically and will bring us the state of mind we were lacking at the start of the season. It’s up to us to stand up and be counted on the field.

The word ‘rigorous’ is being mentioned a lot by the players. Did you need a more severe situation?
when things aren’t working, you need to be disciplined. With Albert, it was about emotion and confidence. Sadly, it wasn’t working any more. With Eric, the players feel it’s a new beginning, everyone is trying their hardest, we’re all giving that bit extra, which increases competition and which will get us moving forward.

“Liverpool, I knew we could do it because we had nothing to lose”

What does Eric Gerets expect from you?
A lot; that I reproduce my performances from last year. For the moment there’s no question of that , I need to get back to form and then we’ll see.

OM won 0-1 in Liverpool for Eric Gerets’ first match in charge. How was it for you?
I had just got out of hospital and watched it at home. I believed we could do it as we had nothing to lose. It was the manager’s first match and the players had a lot to prove, so they gave the maximum. Liverpool underestimated us somewhat, playing with a rotated squad. OM defended well and managed to create chances.

Did OM’s changeability from one match to the next surprise you?
Yes, I was pretty surprised. Everyone ran a lot and made a big effort for their team-mates. That’s what made the difference; it was the same against Besiktas. We need to do that in the league.

“We can’t let it get to us”

In L1 against St-Etienne, in certain passages of play, OM showed how badly it can play…
OM defended really well but we didn’t put St-Etienne in any danger apart from Niang’s shot in the first half. Steve Mandanda was awesome again but we lost to a goal he could do nothing about. The manager let us know we had taken a backwards step. The Lens match will be crucial.

It seemed like nothing would work for OM against St-Etienne. Is doubt setting in?
I don’t think so. It sticks in their craw a bit. It’s tough to concede the winner in the dying seconds. But we can’t let it get to us, we have to lift our heads and act like men.

Eric Gerets said he won’t take any risks with your comeback…
It’s mutual. I need to get back to my best. OM needs me at 100%, not 50%.

“I’ll take as much time as necessary”

Is Champions League action, like against Porto, a strong motivator to return to the side?
I’d like to play in that match as it will be decisive for our proceeding past the group phase but I don’t want to rush it. I may have to wait for the return leg in Porto. I’ll take as much time as necessary.

What do you make of this Porto side?
Porto is very gifted technically. The players can make the difference with just one move. They were in trouble against Besiktas but snatched the win in at the death. We mustn’t underestimate them; they won the competition in 2004.

“Les Bleus have their destiny in their own hands”

Given your recent health problems, you weren’t included in the France squad…
I’m not frustrated by that. Sure, you want to play these matches, especially after the loss to Scotland; these two games are crucial. I spoke to the national team doctors and no one wants to take any risks. The important thing is to be ready for the upcoming matches.

Is there a chance that the France team won’t qualify for Euro 2008?
No, I don’t think so, we have so much quality. Also, our destiny is in our own hands. We need to win the two matches and after that we have matches against Scotland and Italy in which there will probably be winners and losers. Then we have to win in the Ukraine.

The Faroe Islands match could be a pratfall…
We saw Italy have trouble winning there. They’re a very defensive side, but I think Les Bleus have all the weapons top bring them undone.

The special interview will be shown on OMtv on Wednesday October 10 at 09:40, 13:40, 17:40 and 23:40.