The rest of the season with the match against Paris, OM's future in the Champions League, his future as a player but also after is pro career is over...These subjects are broached by Laurent Bonnart in the second part of the extra-large interview.
The team was booed off the field against Monaco. The next match at the Vélodrome is against Paris. Will this match be even more special in view of the start to the season?
The crowd reaction against Monaco was normal. We didn’t play well, even if we did nearly equalise in the second half. We should have had the same frame of mind throughout the match. We have to be strong at the Vélodrome. You need to want to force the opponent to weaken. Paris is always a different match, always special, the supporters will be behind us. We won’t need to go looking for motivation. It’s a special match for us and our supporters, but we have two other big matches beforehand.
Indeed, OM go to Zurich with an obligation to win, as well as against the Swiss at the Vélodrome …
We knew straight away after the draw, Real are above everyone. Milan aren’t far behind and then there are OM and Zurich. We don’t know much about Zurich but they are where they are for a reason. They might not be a top side, but they managed a win at the San Siro. They are giving their all. At home they pulled back to 3-2 after being 3-0 down against Real, of course the lost 5-2… Anything is possible in the Champions League. We have no points, but we knew that the two matches against Zurich would be very important. We need to win twice if we want to have a chance of making it out of the group stage. But they will want to win as well! In the Champions League, everyone defends their chances like rabid dogs.
« Zürich’s win in Milan is a good thing for us, even if it does make the trip to Zürich a lot more difficult »
What was your reaction to Zurich’s win over Milan?
It was a surprise, but it could be good for us as we are capable of beating Milan. Real will most likely go through and we have to hope they beat Milan twice. But, we have to win our matches without looking elsewhere. The results of the other clubs count in a group, but we have to beat Zurich and then see where we stand. Zürich’s win in Milan is a good thing for us, even if it does make the trip to Zürich a lot more difficult.
What type of match are you expecting against the Swiss?
I don’t know this side at all. We haven’t studied them yet, but Zurich will want to win. We will try and be more efficient, because in the Champions League, out of two opportunities you need to put one away. We need to be able to do that.
Does the fact that little is known about this side scare you?
No, but they don’t necessarily know much about us, maybe a little but not 100%. It is going to ber a technical battle, we will have to win our duels out on the pitch.
«We might have been playing in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world, but at the end of the day we lost. There can be no satisfaction»
Personally, how did you feel stepping out onto the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu?
I twas exciting. They atre exceptional moments, but it only lasts a minute. When you step out, you are already focused on the match, there is a lot of concentration to make the efforts, to work hard and not let the opponents have anything. They are fabulous moments but, the memory is tarnished. We might have been playing in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world, but at the end of the day we lost. There can be no satisfaction.
OM’s recruitment was ambitious, but was too much expected too soon?
OM have built a great side, but things won’t work with the flick of a magic wand. The fact that football is so popular means that we are judged. But we cannot focus on that. We aren’t perfect, but we have to keep on working and forget about the criticism, as it doesn’t help us at all.
How have you accepted the fact that you haven’t played as much, because of injury, when you were used to being on the field for every match?
We’re only in mid-October and I’ve only missed two or three matches. Over the course of a season, that’s not a problem. I have rarely experienced this situation and I hate not being able to play football, but that’s just how it is. I arrived at OM as back-up and very quickly I made a place for myself in the side, I’m prepared for anything, just like all the other players. There can be weeks, or months, when we are in difficulty. You have to remain the same, because things always change.
« OM have built a great side, but things won’t work with the flick of a magic wand»
In two months time you will be 30. Are you already thinking about what you will do when your career is over?
It’s difficult to say. I’m only 29 and I don’t know where I will be living later, I don’t know what is going to happen in the next 5 or 6 years, my desires might have changed, things can also change because of people you meet on a professional level … It would be good to have ideas, but I’m 100% focused on my passion for football at the moment. I take care of one thing at a time and don’t think too much about the future.
Would you be interested in playing abroad?
There would have to be a good sporting and financial project. At 30, you start to prepare for the future. I won’t do anything without passion. Today, the sporting project is clear for all to see at Marseille. We’ll see about the rest later, but I’m not thinking about it as I think we’re going to have a fantastic season with OM.
Is there a foreign league that attracts you more than any other?
I don’t have any preference. I might hesitate before going to Italy, but afterwards all the leagues in the top footballing nations are of the highest standard.
