Loïc Perrin: «ASSE-OM, that’s always a good match to look forward to»

What is your opinion of OM’s recent performances?
They’re in peak form! They’re a very good team, that has been through a complicated journey but one that has still earned a series of good results. They have incredible, offensive potential, they score a lot of goals, they’re really in great form. At this moment, it’s like their walking on water.
 
In what state of mind must the Verts be to face such a team?
ASSE-OM, that’s always a good match to look forward to. We have to show the value of the assets at our disposal. What’s certain is that we have to defend very well and manage the passes because it could help us to score. The victories against Marseille are victories that people take notice of. A victory against Marseille would be welcomed by the Green People who have been through some complicated moments. I’d like things to be better from now until the end of the season.
 
As it happens, the team, with two consecutive victories in the championship and three in the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium since the beginning of 2018 is on a strong upward slope.
We feel that things are going better overall and especially during matches. There are still many things to do, to work on. We’re on the right path. The vacation and the training in Spain did the team a world of good after the difficult period that we went through. The coach lets us know how important the atmosphere is among the players. When we’re getting good results, it’s easier. It’s just two consecutive wins, but the championship runs on an incredibly busy schedule. You have to always keep an eye on what’s behind in the League table and keep our mind cold. We are felling better, but we’re not going to change our discourse right this second. Except for the four or five first teams, everything could change very quickly in the table. But things can also go very quickly in the opposite sense.
 
What have the new recruits brought to the group?
They’re players that all have international experience and who I hope will be once again. They come from better established clubs. It’s not an accident that they’re here, which is evident for all to see. They have experience, they know Ligue 1. They have many matches under their belt. I’ve always thought that experience is important and I’m happy that experienced players have joined us. You need players like that during complicated periods. What’s more, they’ve integrated themselves very quickly. Yann (M’Vila), Paul-Georges (Ntep) or Mathieu (Debuchy) know many players. There are many former Rennais. Everything came together very naturally and that’s visible on the field.

Your association with Neven Subotic has already born fruit...
With Neven, we understand each other well, we speak a bit in English. He is a smart player and person, he comes from Borussia. He’s a high-quality player who brings serenity, which allows players of all ages on the team to really see what the highest level looks like. 
 
How do you prepare for your busy schedule in February with your match on your home turf against Marseille, then two consecutive games as an away team against Angers and Lyon?
Marseille and Lyon are teams that are dominating in the championship right now and that are aspiring to the UEFA Champions League. It’s exciting to play against them, especially when we have a surplus of confidence. These two consecutive victories have done us a world of good. But, our championship does not end in February, we’re in it for the long haul. We have to quickly secure our status in Ligue 1. We can’t hope for more in our situation. I hope that that will happen but we might have to fight until the very end. In any case, we have to get ready.