(Adaptation).The adaptation’s going pretty well. There were difficulties in the first game with Sevilla, but we later corrected that and got on track. Against Levante we started off badly and Willy’s sending off complicated the game further. But overall we’re being consistent.
At first it was difficult to get involved with the game, not for the group, but Spanish football is different to French football – here, you touch the ball more, the play is quicker. It was a bit of an effort in that respect at the beginning and I felt a little uncomfortable, but now it’s going much better.
(Ambitious project). A good debut: Yes, Málaga is being highly anticipated. We’re a work in progress and we have to try and get into positions for the Europa league. The aim is to be very competitive and not move too far away from those top positions.
(Relationship with teammates) The relationship with them is going well, even though I don’t speak much Spanish, although I make the effort.
(France) Missing France. I don’t miss France much as I like the quite life and here I’m less exposed than in France.
(Differences between Spanish and French). In the last 20 metres to the goal, as well as in attack and defence, and here they touch the ball more. France was a lot stronger a few years ago, but here there’s a higher level of technical ball skill.
(Praise from media, teammates and fans) I’m very happy. They also appreciated me in Lyon even though it took longer to get through. The important thing is that it carries on like this. The important this is the team, if the team does well, the individuals will shine and they’ll only say positives about us. Improve his level even more? You’ve always got to improve more. In the first game, the manager told me that I left my zone to join the attack and I’ve got be conscious of that.
(French national squad) I’m not impatient about going abck. If Málaga and I work well together, it could be that I go back. France is doing well right now; Blanc is doing a good job, and if they don’t call me I’ll continue to work as I am now.
(Euro 2012) I don’t ask myself these things, I never have done. The important thing now is to work, to be more efficient in my work with Málaga. We’ve had a good start but we’ve got to keep working and then we’ll look at the future.
(European objective) The fans are expecting us to get there. We’ve invested a lot as a club and there’s expectation for good quality play and to be as high as possible. But you can’t forget that we’re a team in progress and to get into Europe, even though it could come true, it will be complicated.
(Big names) It’s always good to have a great manager like Pellegrini. But also I highlight the coaching staff and the club’s directors. They’re doing some great things and even though there are ‘names’, no-one is above the group as a whole. We’re a group and the pressure is on for all of us and for no-one in particular.
(La Rosaleda).The atmosphere is extraordinary. They’re really the 12th player and for us they’re very important in difficult times. The fans feel everything and we have a good ground with a pitch in a great condition.
(Outside football) I’m calm, homely, I worry about my kids. I don’t like going out much but I do try and make some visits.
(A standout player) Mathieu Berson. He began in Nantes before going with Levante and then he went to Toulouse. I met him in the junior level and I took his place. I see a lot of myself in him because he worked very hard and worked for the team.
(On the world stage): Barcelona play some beautiful football, but I don’t have a standout player. I’m more about the play of a team, even though they may have some great individuals.
(The people of Málaga) Generally they wish me luck. They’re good people, friendly. When I go about the city, people leave me alone, something you appreciate as a footballer.
(Objective in Málaga) The aim of coming here was to help build the team, a little bit like Juinho did in Lyon, the same kind of thing: I came to help Málaga grow and so as the team gets to know European levels; we’ve got great things to do in the future. But coming as they’re building everything, I believe that we can be a very competitive team within two years.
Short questions
-film
Felices Pascuas, Jean Paul Belmondo
- obsession
Wetting my head before going on the pitch
-preferred fan base
Málaga, Lyon, Nantes (birthplace)
- book
La Elegancia del Erizo
- colour
Blue
- Food
pasta with salmon and paella
- Drink
red wine
- car
Audi (A3)
- perfume
Chanel Allure
- I’m not on social networking sites
- sport
tennis
- another profession
a craftsman, such as a cabinet maker
