Foot Mercato: we met you in Monaco, Lens and Toulouse in Ligue 1. How would you price your expertise in France?
Marcel Tisserand: I made my skilled debut in Monaco and it stays an excellent reminiscence. Then I drove by Lens and Toulouse. It was two leases and two excellent experiences. I wished time to play. After I began at Monaco on the age of 18, it was a membership that was beginning to come again to the fore, recruiting gamers like Falcao, James Rodriguez and Eric Abidal. It wasn’t essentially simple for me to create the trail. So these two loans did me good.
FM: Then your profession took you to Ingostadt and Wolfsburg in Germany. How do you price your time spent there?
MT: Germany was an excellent expertise. Even earlier than I left, I actually favored this championship by way of pace, its rigorous facet, additionally by way of the concepts of the sport. There are lots of French who’ve been there previously. I wished to develop in a league as enticing because the Bundesliga. I got here to Ingolstadt, which was my first membership there. It was a small membership that had simply been promoted to the primary division and gave me the chance to proceed enjoying after a few mortgage spells in France. I managed to settle within the place of a central defender. It was a bit new to me on the time as a result of I used to be skilled as a right-back. Coming to Germany was very helpful to me. I found a brand new tradition and discovered many issues. It was nice, I’ve solely good recollections.
FM: Is the environment higher than in Turkey, the place you wore Fenerbahçe colours?
MT: will rely upon the levels. Whenever you go to a sport in Dortmund, Cologne or Freiburg, which have man-sized stadiums however are at all times full, the environment just isn’t unhealthy both. However the fact is that there isn’t any comparability with Turkey, the place supporters are being launched. The derbies I received to expertise right here, whether or not in opposition to Besiktas or Galatasaray, had been unimaginable. I’ve by no means skilled it, besides maybe for picks within the Congo. After we play at dwelling, it is also full of life. I have not performed in England or anyplace else, however at that second, in what I skilled in soccer, it was Turkey that marked me probably the most.
FM: You simply stated you have not performed within the Premier League or another league in Europe. Is {that a} pity in your half?
MT: soccer is an extended journey. You by no means actually know the place you are going. I hope to have the ability to play for a couple of extra years. Maybe there can be different alternatives to develop on this championship later. We’ll see. Anyway, right now I am glad as a result of I used to be capable of uncover a number of championships and totally different cultures. I really feel happiness and gratitude.
FM: We really feel that you’ve developed as a footballer and as an individual due to it.
MT: sure completely. We dwell in a different way, for instance, in Germany and Turkey. It is not the identical life-style and the identical tradition in any respect. After all I am studying. I had the chance to be taught languages equivalent to German. It enriches. In the present day I’m glad that I used to be capable of journey like this.
Saudi Arabia, a terrific discovery
FM: This summer season you traveled from Turkey to Saudi Arabia the place you signed with Al Ettifaq. It’s usually thought, maybe incorrectly, that it’s the gamers who finish their careers who find yourself there. However you are 30 and nonetheless younger. Why this selection?
MT: it was the membership that wished me probably the most on the time. In all of the golf equipment I went to, I used to be at all times the place I used to be most wished. The coach wished me right here. There have been requests from different golf equipment, however I did not really feel as a lot curiosity as Al Ettifaq and coach Patrice Carteron. His presence weighed closely on the scales. I actually felt their want for me to come back and embrace me of their venture as a result of you need to know that Saudi Arabia is de facto rising. The final time we noticed them on the World Cup was their good efficiency in opposition to Argentina. We additionally see the fascinating arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. We see that the nation desires to emancipate itself and open up somewhat extra to the world, as Qatar and Dubai have accomplished. So that they wish to observe their instance. I believe I come on the proper time. The second when a rustic begins to have its eyes on the world. I am glad I received there. After that, like I informed you, soccer is an extended journey and also you by no means know the place you may be from season to season. I am wonderful the place I’m right now. I uncover new experiences and have enjoyable with this staff. I am nonetheless rising and studying various things.
FM: When making your selection, did you might have any hits in France or elsewhere in Europe?
MT: sure, alternatives had been particularly in France and Germany. I additionally had some in Turkey. However I work with emotions and folks. When a coach calls me personally and makes it very clear what he’ll do with me, it means loads. Then, I will not deceive you, there was additionally a suggestion that was enticing and fascinating for the remainder of my profession. I take into consideration the current, however I additionally take into consideration the longer term. All these particulars got here into play in the course of the switch final summer season.
FM: The Saudi Professional League is a championship that we all know little or no about in Europe. What are you able to inform us?
MT: truthfully, it is a championship that I believe lacks a little bit of depth. However I’ve seen that there are nonetheless some proficient gamers, be it Saudis or foreigners, who come to play there. It’s value realizing that golf equipment can depend on seven foreigners within the staff. There can be eight of them subsequent season. I believe overseas gamers will come there yearly. This may even give the championship extra visibility whereas elevating the extent of the league. As you may see, the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo has added some zest to the championship and the nation. There are fairly a couple of TV channels which have purchased the rights to the championship. All this exhibits a unique face of Saudi Arabia.
FM: We discuss much more about this nation since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived nearly a month in the past. How did you survive his switch? Did you consider it?
MT: now we see in soccer that something is feasible. It wasn’t the finances that stopped Al Nassr from bringing him in. However extra of his ambition to him. What he was prepared for, what he wished for the remainder of his profession. Actually, I believed it. I stated to myself, “why not? He might finish his profession right here or proceed his journey right here.” The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo gave the impetus to the championship. Everybody was speaking about it. We had the chance to face him in his first official match. It was a terrific alternative for us and a terrific poster. Glorious. I hope there can be an increasing number of of us right here.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a participant who will assist the Saudi Professional League
FM: you who confronted him, how did you discover CR7 in his first match? Does it have good leftovers or is it completed as some say?
MT: From what I’ve seen, it is nonetheless in fine condition. It is nonetheless sharp. It is apparent he takes care of himself. Then it’s sure that he not has his 20-year-old legs. We’re not going to ask him to dribble 5 gamers like he might have accomplished a couple of years in the past, ending up on his personal. We will see that he wants his teammates somewhat extra now. He performs along with his head much more, pays extra consideration to his actions, to his timing. It evolves with the instances. I believe he’ll adapt to this championship fairly rapidly.
FM: Different large names like Lionel Messi or Sergio Ramos might emerge within the coming years. Does it make you dream?
MT: confirms my selection to come back there. I did not go anyplace. I see lots of good gamers being invited right here. There are nonetheless rumors, we’ll see if it is possible. After we see that Cristiano Ronaldo has come right here, prospects open up. It is excellent for the championship and for us as gamers. We wish to play in opposition to these gamers. It is solely constructive, so hopefully different large names will be a part of us.
FM: We discuss loads about CR7, who’s probably the most well-known, however different well-known names on the planet of soccer have additionally been right here or are nonetheless there.
MT: just isn’t the primary. My pal Bafé Gomis was there a couple of years in the past too. Many well-known gamers have come right here. However it’s sure that Cristiano Ronaldo is an emblematic participant, so he makes extra noise. The imaginative and prescient of the nation has modified loads. They wish to set up tournaments and occasions. In addition they wish to modernize their stadiums, furthermore, our membership is within the means of constructing a brand new stadium, which can be commissioned quickly. We see them getting concerned in sports activities. Their efficiency on the final World Cup confirmed that they are often counted on by way of seriousness and group. It is fascinating. As Hervé Renard stated, there may be potential right here and there’s a lot to do.
FM: I am coming again to you, how is the season going for you individually and as a staff?
MT:individually not so unhealthy. I believe collectively we will do much more. We’re the tenth. I believe by being extra rigorous and committing to matches inside our attain, we will transfer up within the rankings. However personally, bodily I really feel fairly good. The coach is French, so by way of integration, he helped me loads once I arrived right here. My household joined me right here. So for now every little thing goes effectively throughout these first months. I hope that can proceed.
FM: what are your objectives on this championship the place the 2 large vehicles Al Nassr and Al Hilal usually dominate the debates?
MT: I nonetheless have the identical objectives. After I go someplace, I wish to be among the many finest. If tomorrow I’ve the chance to play in the perfect golf equipment within the nation, I cannot be ashamed. It was sort of the identical mentality I had once I began within the Professionals after which in Germany in Ingolstadt. I stated to myself that now we have to goal for a membership above the one which performs within the European Cup. That is the way it was. I at all times stay attentive and we’ll see the alternatives that can be obtainable on the finish of the season or one after it. However for positive there are good golf equipment on this league, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Shabab. So we’ll see what occurs to me.
FM: what are your ambitions in choice this 12 months 2023?
MT: we’re in a interval of reconstruction. There are elections that will not be lengthy earlier than they attain the federation stage. The brand new coach arrived very just lately, he’s within the course of of creating a reputation for himself. Sadly, CHAN did not go too effectively for our native gamers. We’re rebuilding. I keep vigilant and keep away, which may occur as a result of we’ve not seen our teammates in a very long time. I hope Congolese soccer will evolve in a barely extra constructive method within the coming months and years.
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