“Obviously we’re all desperate to play. I whole week, without a game on the weekend feels a little bit long. But we really have to try and get the most out of it and prepare as best we can for the trip to Le Mans and also the next game.”
How are you approaching this match against your former teammates?
“It’s always great to play against this team. I’ve kept in touch with my old teammates as well as the club staff. It’s almost a year since I haven’t been back, so I’m looking forward to seeing the Stade Léon-Bollée again.”
What do you think about Le Mans’ recent results?
“The team has struggled a little in its last few matches, but overall they’ve had a good season. The club’s aim is to survive in Ligue 1. At the moment they’re in a rough patch but I hope they get themselves out of it. We also need points, so it will be a good game – one that we must win.”
Is a win imperative to getting a top-three finish?
“Of course, we’re obliged to win! We’re coming off a poor result at home where we could have climbed into the top three with Lyon losing. We have to win at Le Mans if we want to get something good out of this season. It starts this Wednesday.”
How have the players coped with the events of the past week?
“We’re professional right to the end, even though these things are never easy to deal with. Given the season we’ve had to date, and the defeat to Rennes, we can’t afford to think about anything other than the match and not get distracted by what’s happening around us.”
