Pavard Joins New Club: First Interview & Reaction

The smile is there. The verb is lively. Benjamin Pavard has a hard time hiding his joy and impatience when he appears in front of the media this Thursday. For his first press conference as OM player, the international defender took the time to say more about the reasons for his arrival at the end of the transfer window and his ambitions in his new club.

His feeling after signing at OM

“Lots of emotions. I’ve been going from France for nine years, I missed it a lot. This is why I liked the Marseille project. I get closer to my family. I am very happy to join Olympique de Marseille. ”

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How did his arrival

“My agents have been in contact with Medhi Benatia (the director of football, editor’s note) for some time and it was done at the end of the transfer window. When I knew the interest of OM, I wanted to join this ambitious project. Playing at the counters closed, the Champions League, with the fervor there are emotions to live as a footballer. I can’t wait to celebrate victories, I hope on Friday! ”

His choice to join OM

“Marseille is a very big club. I had the chance to win trophies in big clubs, in Bayern Munich, in Inter Milan. Marseille does not refuse. When I see the infrastructure, it’s great, the atmosphere too. The supporters are there. I needed to experience emotions and get closer to France. ”

On his return to France as a “darling” of the French since 2018

“I’m not going to say darling. I give everything on the ground, I try to be as human as possible. I have not played much in France and I want to prove my true value in France. I hope to have a big season personally and collectively. ”

Central, lateral defender … his positioning

“Everything goes. I came here for the project. When I had Medhi on the phone, I liked the project. I am available to the coach. It is not for me to decide where I have to play. Defense with three, four, central or lateral, I am available to the team. ”

Its versatility

“We exchanged a lot with the coach. Yesterday we were able to speak because my Italian is not that bad. We discussed how to play, with videos too. It is a possession game. I’m not going to tell you everything because otherwise Lorient will listen to the conference (smile). “

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On Adrien Rabiot

“What happened with Adrien Rabiot. He told me positive and he is very happy that I join OM. He told me about the public, he told me that the good of the club, the supporters and the city. He comforted me a little in my choice even if I already knew the city a little. ”

If he knew Roberto de Zerbi

“I didn’t know him personally. But I saw what he had done in Sassuolo and Brighton. His style of play, based on possession, that suits me well. It is a very professional club. I feel good. I am in a very high level club. I hope we will do beautiful things this year. ”

The explosive character of Roberto De Zerbi

“I think you’ve never seen Simone Inzaghi. When I arrived in Italy, I thought he was crazy. But they are people who love their players, passionate about their job. It can be surprising. I can’t wait to start the adventure tomorrow with the coach and live beautiful emotions with the whole group. ”

The welcome reserved for him

“It is a quality workforce. The leaders did a very good job. I was very well received with executives, young people. I felt good! “

On its preparation

“I arrived late because I was with the Blues. Physically and mentally, I feel ready. After it will be up to the coach to choose for tomorrow. ”

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The match against Lorient

“There are never easy matches. You always have to have the same motivation. We are used to, we have the new players, we made videos, we train. Everything will not be perfect but little by little with the training and the chain of matches, I do not worry. ”

The perilous sequence with Real Madrid then PSG

“Frankly, we have a next game tomorrow. We did not do good results before. We are lucky to play in front of our audience. The match against Real is a bit far. You have to be ready to win tomorrow. ”

The ambitions in the Champions League

“If I didn’t feel it, I wouldn’t have come here. Medhi has been there for two years, he has brought back great players. The Champions League is important. We have the workforce to win matches but we must not put ourselves any particular pressure. ”

The importance of having evolved abroad and in large clubs

“It is sure that I left very young, at twenty years old. It was a change. In Stuttgart, I evolved as a player and as a man. In Bayern, I was in the best German club, and I won everything. I also played in the best Italian club, Inter Milan, where I won the Scudetto. I have experience. “

If he aspires to take a leader’s role

“Inevitably, this is something that I like about my experience. It’s up to me to bring my experience outside and on the field. If young people have things to ask me, or if I have things to say, you have to talk about it. ”

His experience in front of low blocks

“Sure. It’s up to me to give advice, and I’m not the only one. We must not lose patience. You can win at the end. You have to put the opportunities at the bottom! ”

The 2026 World Cup objective

“It’s a goal but I didn’t come for that. It is an ambitious project, interesting for me. I come because Medhi convinced me about the sportsman. It will go through performance on the field. If I am good, they will be the choices of the coach. ”

Steve Mandanda’s retirement

“I rubbed shoulders with it as a French team. It is a big person, it is a legend of the club. Respect for his career. I hope he will soon come to the Vélodrome so that I can congratulate him! ”

Put OM to the top

“When I arrived in Stuttgart, they had just come down to the second division. It is a big club that deserves to be in the top of the Bundesliga. My goal is that OM is at the top level on duration. We have a great workforce. It’s up to us to wet the jersey! “

To see too – “There is something that is created”, Manu Koné is expressed on the new generation of the Blues