“What was your first reaction when AS Saint-Etienne contacted you?
I had plans, I thought about it. But you have to remember that we are talking about Saint-Etienne, a very big challenge, a historic club in the French championship. Besides, I know the artist (Loïc Perrin, ASSE sports coordinator, next to him). I spoke with my family, my agent, and I told them that Saint-Etienne is really the place where I should be, there is something to do. There is a club that deserves better than that. We’re going to do things well. I am very happy to be here.
As a competitor, you will be served. with the maintenance mission. But haven’t you considered the risk of being in a team relegated at the end of the season?
For me there is no risk. I have always lived in competition, I was used to playing to win titles. But for me, today, saving Saint-Etienne, getting out of the battle for maintenance, it’s the same. I have the same desire as if I were playing a match to win a title. We have no choice, we have to take points and get out of this zone, it’s motivation. We have a very good group, with potential, listening. We have to find that little spark, I trust, and that’s why I’m here.
Saint-Etienne still represents something?
You can say what you want, but it’s the star, ten French Championship, the heritage of French football. From there, you can’t afford to go down, in any case I didn’t come for that. The goal is very clear, and I repeat it in the locker room: we will save ourselves. It’s a club, a city that breathes football. It won’t be easy, every match will be a battle, but we have it all.
You will discover Ligue 1 at 30, it’s paradoxical…
I’m not expecting anything special. I know why I’m here, for Saint-Etienne, I didn’t come for Ligue 1. Afterwards, as a French player I’ve never been to France, so it’s still something rewarding. But my priority is Saint-Etienne, before Ligue 1.
There is a lot of expectation around your arrival here. Do you feel some pressure?
Pressure no, for me it is motivation. It’s not me who will make Saint-Etienne win, it’s the group. I want to be part of this group, add what I can add, with what is already there. I can bring my experience, some things that I have been able to experience. It’s a young group.
How do you feel physically?
I feel good in training, it’s been a long time since I played football, played a match. I still have a lot of room, so much the better for me, the group and Saint-Etienne. (For this weekend, in the Cup against Bergerac) it was too fair, it’s only been a week. I need a little more time. The goal is not to come back a match and blow up. I want to go until the end of the season.
I know my body, I’m 30, I know how to prepare, so I gave myself one more week. Personally, I will seek to have continuity. But my goal is not Mangala, it’s Saint-Etienne.
How do you respond to those who doubt your physique?
They just have to watch the matches and we’ll talk about it at the end of the season.
Are you revengeful, after six months without playing?
It was the challenge that motivated me, I want to be part of this adventure, that at the end of the season we come back to say: “We told you so. At the end of May, see you in Ligue 1 and at the Stade de France (for the French Cup final). »