Just 24 hours before their very own UEFA Champions League Group B 'finale' (Wednesday 7 December, kick-off 20:45), the LOSC and Trabzonspor AS stopped by the Stadium Lille Métropole to give their views on the match at the traditional pre-game press conference. Click on the slideshow, to the right, to see the Turkish side getting to know the stadium.
07/12/11
Final showdown. "The advantage of this situation is that we don't need to pose ourselves too many questions. We'll play our normal game, we'll play attacking football and try and score one more goal than our opponents. The idea is not to try and write history, but rather, take advantage of an opportunity that has presented itself to qualify. It may end up a very important moment for us because the staff, just like the players, are competitors. We needed to win our 'semi-final' against CSKA Moscow and we did it. Tomorrow it's the 'final' and it's not about playing, it's about winning. And we're going to enjoy it."
The one to watch. "Burak Yilmaz? I don't think he'll change the way they play football. Having said that, he's a player that scores a lot of goals and has all the qualities of a top striker. We'll have to keep an eye on him, but we want be focusing solely on him."
An electric atmosphere? "We'll see what the atmosphere will be like at the Stadium during the warm-up and at kick-off. Against CSKA Moscow, we had great support that pushed us to perform and we played well and scored goals. However, we didn't have the same support against Inter Milan. But tomorrow I'm convinced we'll have our usual fans and they will play a very important role in the outcome. They need to carry the whole stadium with them. We also have to play our part in ensuring that the fans have a good time and enjoy the show. The presence of a Turkish team will add even more atmosphere."
Deal with the pressure. "The squad is more experienced now. Confidence has grown with each match. My players have shown they know how to win the decisive matches. At the same time, we can't overlook our main character trait which is to put the pressure to one side and concentrate on playing football. Show all our enthusiasm and enjoy playing football, that's what the LOSC is all about."
The top level. "Has Rudi Garcia had some special things to say to the squad this week? Yes and no. No, because all the ingredients are there to motivate us automatically and we will try and play to our strengths, like we always do. And yes, because the coach is a very ambitious competitor and he wants to qualify for the last-16. Let's not try and hide it: ever since we beat CSKA Moscow, we've had Trabzonspor on our mind. It's all the more amazing that we've prepared for this match with a win in Ligue 1, where we've been in great form recently."
Lessons learned at Trabzonspor. "This game is one of our objectives for the season. Reaching the last-16 of the Champions League may have appeared overly ambitious, but we can see now that it's a realistic aim. We are totally focused on this final game that we know is going to be tough. We didn't win the first game against them in the group, and we know they are not competing for the qualification by chance. But we are hugely motivated to get through. Last season's Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double is essential because it proves the club knows how to win. To be qualified as one of the best 16 clubs in Europe has only happened once before in the LOSC's history and we are counting on making it twice!"
Continue the adventure. "When we started the competition, most observers were fairly pessimistic as to Trabzonspor's chances. In the end, we're here with six points and that gives us a little advantage. We're here to finish the job. A draw will be enough for us to qualify for the last-16. Tomorrow will be a very difficult challenge against a very organised and very attacking football team. But we're not here to make up the numbers. The important thing is to try and write history for the club and we're going to try and do that with our squad."
The LOSC hurdle. "In the first game, Lille were better than us, especially in the first half. We dropped two points at home and we're going to try and correct that here by dominating the match. We will be patient and hopefully we can start well and control the rhythm of the game. The LOSC characteristics? We know them well, because they are similar to our own. They have a very even squad with a very rich attacking sector with the likes of Hazard, Sow, Balmont, Mavuba, Debuchy, Béria... All of them can make the difference and work hard to maintain a good defensive unit. Lille played well against Inter but lost twice whereas we took four points from Inter. It's a very open group."
"Like the coach said, this is an historic match for our club in our very first Champions League campaign. We know it will be tough going against a very disciplined Lille side, and one full of confidence. But we are also here to show that Turkish football is improving. It's true that the LOSC can draw upon a very impressive attack, with the likes of Sow, Hazard and Cole but we often forget to mention their excellent midfield players such as Balmont, Mavuba and Pedretti. That's where the battle will be won or lost. We've got six points and we want to show what we're capable of."
LOSC v Trabzonspor AS, Match Day 6 in Group B of the UEFA Champions League, Wednesday 7 December at the Stadium Lille Métropole (kick-off 20:45).
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