OM | Video – Mathieu Valbuena: “Against Lyon, I will support OM”
The former player of the two Olympics are currently playing at… Olympiakos Piraeus. At 37, he lives fully the last part of his career, while being a consultant for RMC. And tomorrow night for the clash between his two former clubs, he will have a blue and white heart.
Mathieu, which team are you going to support tonight?
Mathieu Valbuena: It is not a surprise. I still have an Olympic heart. I will support the Olympique de Marseille. These are always special matches, high tension with two major French clubs facing each other. There is a sporting rivalry but also at the level of the supporters. We expect a big intensity, a big atmosphere. I remember my return to the Vélodrome with the Lyon tunic, it was very complicated for me.
What is your view on the start of the season for OM under Jorge Sampaoli?
There has been a very, very good recruitment. With youth, enthusiasm, very good results and OM are at the top of the table today, even if the team has not been winning a row lately. But I find that there is a very good dynamic in the team, in all areas of the game, a lot of dynamism. And then this year we found the supporters who had missed us so much. With each match, the stadium is full, it gives this team a lot of punch. The coach is very much like the club, very bloody, very passionate. There are new players who are really satisfying like Guendouzi or Saliba. There are some who have yet to perfect their acclaim like Gerson or Ünder, who is a very good player that I know because he was in Turkey.
Regarding the Europa League, OM only have 4 points in 4 matches, do you think that qualification is possible?
Mathematically it is possible. It is true that OM can have regrets. But there is still a small place to pass. I am thinking of this equalization at the end of the match against Lokomotiv Moscow… Marseille is quite a story with Europe, Marseille is the Champions League. I hope they can qualify for the next round and why not meet us again.
OM will be deprived of their public against Troyes …
It’s a shame because it comes from a small minority. Since the start of the season there have been too many problems in the stands. It’s good to have passion to support your team. But when you have the love of your team, you shouldn’t do anything stupid. To condemn a club for a minority of supporters is a shame. The LFP is uncompromising today on certain things. I think it went around all the networks to see a Marseille supporter running behind Messi. Behind, it causes a total closed door. However, the public is the 12th man and that can win games.
Have you kept in touch with former players, especially Steve Mandanda?
Yes, I have kept in touch with several players of my generation whether it is Mamad ‘(Niang) or Ronald Zubar. And it’s true that I was really very affected by Steve’s situation. He really marked the history of this club. He is the one who has played the most matches. He practically won. He doesn’t deserve to be left out. That we prepare for the future, no problem. That we can put it in competition, no problem. But that it was done like that all of a sudden, compared to everything he retained at the club, his professionalism, I did not find it super cool. Sampaoli says in the press that there is competition. We will see if there is real competition.
What about you Mathieu?
I’ve been at Olympiakos for two and a half years, it’s going very well. We win titles because of good courses in the European Cup. I am very happy here. I have very good relations with my president, with the staff. I found a family, in addition to being in a beautiful country. But now we’re getting a little old! I am 37 years old. I supervise the young people a bit. And at the same time, I am also a consultant for RMC. Going to the other side of the barrier is not always easy because we sometimes hated these consultants! I do it because I love football. I am passionate and able to talk football, discuss certain things in L1 or other championships, I love it.