“The idea was to stay in form against a good side, currently leading the Portuguese standings. It was also important to get the win to prepare for Friday’s match.” The matches against Marseille are they extra special for you?
“Not only for me. It’s a big game and you have to be up for it and do what ever you can to get the three points. At least get a positive result. There’s a special atmosphere, but there’s no point going overboard either. We prepare the same way as for any other game. But it is a game which means a lot to the two clubs. We need to be mentally, and physically, ready.”
You also earned a great win in the fixture last season, to help you prepare for Friday’s game…
“Last season we played really well. We have the feeling this year, that people think if we win, it will be a huge upset. We know we can do it. We won 4-2 last year. We have to try and reproduce that performance and go to Marseille without pressure because I really believe we can beat OM.” Claude Makelele is suspended. You may be starting alongside Clément Chantôme in the middle of the park. Do you play differently depending on who you play with?
“Make plays a little deeper and me a little higher up the pitch. Clem gets forward more so it will be me that sits a little deeper in front of the defence. But there’s no guarantee it will be us two in the starting line-up. We don’t know who is playing yet. Who plays is not as important as the fact that everyone that does play has to give it everything.” You are a Lyon youth product, like Hatem Ben Arfa. Have you spoken together about this match?
“No. But it will be great to see him again. I don’t think he’ll start the match. That might be a good thing for us because he’s a player capable of causing us problems.”
