OM-Liverpool: The press conference

the replay of the press conference on Twitch
 

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg: ‘We have ambition’

A poster

Tomorrow, football will be celebrated. Two extraordinary clubs, passion, history, in an extraordinary stadium and setting. Tomorrow, everyone will come with a smile, and I hope that OM fans will leave with a smile.

Virgil Van Dijk

Virgil has had an extraordinary career. He will continue. He has won everything, he is a top-level player, a leader in his team and in his country. Young people should look up to him and follow his example. He is a very high-level player. I congratulate him on his career.

Liverpool

When you play in England, they say it's the best league in the world. If the English say that the most important match is the one at the weekend... For us, every match is important. We want to play well, we are ambitious and we want to play our game.

The face of OM

Liverpool are the English champions. We're playing them tomorrow, so we need to be at our best mentally and physically. We play for OM, we'll try to do everything we can to get points.

Goals conceded at the end of the match

We have to talk about it, tell ourselves that matches are played until the end. The important thing is to do things until the end. We have to repeat it every day. We've wasted points this season because of that.

A chance to make our mark

Liverpool are a strong team. I have confidence in us, I have ambition with OM. It would be great to play a big game tomorrow. We'll do everything we can. It will be a complete game with two teams wanting the three points. We'll do everything we can to win.

Liverpool going through a bad patch

It's not fair to say that. They have fantastic players like Salah. We'll have to play a great game, we're ambitious, we love playing these big games. Liverpool are champions, we have to take these opportunities.

The future

I'm focused on OM, I feel good here. I talk to my teammates, the people at the club. There's a great sense of confidence. We're playing in all competitions, which is a pleasure. I'm very happy here.

Juventus

Nothing happened. Not at all.

Role off the pitch

It's important in a team that everyone has their role. If mine is to take responsibility on and off the pitch, I'm happy to do so. Everyone is in the right place and everyone is doing their best. I give my all. I look at how I can improve, how the team can improve. It's good to say it, but you also have to act on it. The club and the players have that mentality.

Roberto De Zerbi

He's passionate! I've known top-level coaches who are passionate, like Conte. He's on the same level. I feel comfortable with him and Medhi Benatia. I'm really enjoying myself.

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Look them in the eye’

OM against the ‘big teams’

The football preparation is more difficult. The mental preparation is easier. We have to improve. We have to think that all matches must be prepared in the same way because we can win against anyone and we can lose against anyone.

The importance

It can change our season because we can qualify. A single result cannot change a season. The defeat in Kuwait still stings, it hurts, but we know we can compete against anyone. I have a strong team.

The transfer market

Matt O'Riley is a good player, but we have a lot of good players in that position. We like him, but maybe he'll make it into the starting eleven. For the transfer market, you have to ask the president. I'm focused on Marseille. In my head, there's nothing else but tomorrow's match. I feel good here.

Emerson Palmieri and Timothy Weah

They are two extraordinary and different players. Weah allows us to attack and defend with an extra player. Emerson is a very high-level player. He's a great signing, considering his cost. They do great things and they are wonderful people.

OM on all fronts, a trophy

In football, there is a team that wins and a team that loses. We know where we could do better. We want to win trophies. OM tries to be competitive while respecting the opponent. We can't think about playing differently against Nantes and Liverpool. That's how we'll be able to win trophies. We were thirteen seconds away from winning a trophy. We're very close.

Self-confidence

I work with my players by explaining one simple thing to them. If we want to get through this stage, get into the Champions League and win trophies, we mustn't think about the match. We have what it takes to cause them problems. We need to find the right balance between self-esteem and humility. If we think we're too strong or that it won't take much to win, we'll end up with performances like the one against Nantes.

The group stage

It's more exciting, we get to play more teams, and it's open until the last minute. It's also more difficult and more energy-intensive. There's more interest. Last year, PSG were out with two or three games to go, but in the end they won it. That's a positive thing.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

He brings us something in every area. He's a quality player, and he brings us quantity as well. He'll take the ball when it's burning at his feet. He has a strong personality. This type of player is essential to move forward. Since I arrived, Medhi and I have changed a lot of things. The soul of the team is young. We lack brotherhood, the ability to understand each other at a glance. We had players who arrived at the last minute of the transfer window. To win matches, we need to raise the bar in every respect.

Hamed Junior Traoré

He is less vertical than Paixão. He is more mature than he was at Sassuolo. He is becoming a top-level player. He gives us the opportunity to get into the lines in the centre. He gives us more space. I have two very strong players. He can give us more energy, he brings freshness.

Caution or playing freely

I have never prepared for a match with the aim of getting a draw. We prepare for it and we play to win. If we don't all run together, we won't win. This is especially important for the forwards. I always have forwards on the bench. If we have a drop in energy in the 60th minute, I can make changes. We have to play with courage. We have what it takes to look them in the eye, like we did against PSG. In competition, we can lose, but we can also win.

The supporters

The stadium will be decked out in festive colours. We've had requests for enough tickets to fill the stadium twice over. We'll have to be up to the task. We'll need dignity and we'll have to try to play the game.