“Your name has often been linked to OM since the arrival of Pablo Longoria at the club in July 2020. What method would you like to develop here?
I didn’t know that my name had already been associated with OM in the past. I have been working with this working group for 20 years, we believe in our method. We like to have an organized team. Balance is the basis of success. It also goes through an attractive game, a dynamic style, which is common to OM’s values, and that makes us optimistic.
With your 4-4-2, you will mark a real break with your predecessor…
We watched several matches from last season. We saw the idea that this team had. It is different from ours, it is clear, especially defensively. The transition between the two styles will have to be quick, we have European competition which is coming quickly. We will have to work efficiently, but I am convinced that we will be competitive.
Our organization will depend on the players and their profile, especially the attacking elements. It will not deviate much from the 4-4-2, we can switch to 4-2-3-1. We can also play in 4-3-3, we’ll see. We are not going to change all the time depending on the opponent. We want to focus on ourselves. We want to convince all players of this idea.
“There will be no individual marking. I see football in a different way”
No more individual marking à la Tudor?
I respect all ideas, all styles. The most important thing for us: that all the players manage to identify with what we want. But yes, there will be no individual marking. I see football differently. We will play 90% of the time with four defenders. We will establish pressing zones, it depends on the players we have and how comfortable they are doing this pressing. Counter-pressing, I love it, the main European teams do it. If they win the C1, we must take them as models.
We talk a lot about your long companionship with Pablo Longoria. How are you going to manage this, working together on a daily basis?
Pablo, I’ve known him since he was 20, he’s someone I consider my friend. Friendship does not change professionalism. Today, I’m an OM coach, it’s thanks to my work and that of my staff. We have always achieved our goals. On the European scene, we played semi-finals against very big teams, we won the Spanish Cup. This is due to our abilities. No matter what will happen at the pro level, Pablo will always be my friend.
What do you think of the arrival of Geoffrey Kondogbia, a first recruit that you know well?
Regarding Kondo, I call him that, we had the chance to work with him in Valencia. He is a world class player. I would like to point out that this is an operation carried out before my arrival. This is not a personal request. There were already negotiations between OM and him before I discussed myself with the club.
“We will have to make some changes in this workforce”
Do you need to make major changes to the squad?
We will have to make some changes in this squad. I need to get to know the roster better, but we’ve been talking about it for a while. When you look at last season, the structure is different. There were a lot of people inside the field, we rather want side players, others who attack the spaces. We have to see which player to bring to the club within an established budget.
You will find in L1 that you have often met in L1, Luis Enrique…
It’s strange to see two Asturians, two kids from Gijon, coaching both OM and PSG. This would have been very hard to believe just a few weeks ago! But that’s life, that’s football. I have a lot of respect for him, professionally, humanly. I wish him good luck in his new missions, but not when he is going to play against us! »
