RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Makoun Expects Competition In Lyon
Newly acquired Lyon midfielder Jean II Makoun has spoken of the great competition for places at his new club and also of Claude Puel, les Gones’ head coach, whom he knows from his time at previous club, Lille...
Jul 22, 2008 1:59:34 PM
With so many familiar faces around him, Jean II Makoun should have few problems settling in at Olympique Lyon. Kader Keita and Mathieu Bodmer both blazed a trail from Lille to Lyon last summer before being followed by head coach Claude Puel.
Speaking to Football365 ahead of Lyon’s match with Partizan Belgrade tomorrow evening, Makoun appeared to relish the new challenge. The Partizan clash marks the real outset of Makoun’s Lyon journey, as he tries to lay down a marker to establish himself as a first team regular in a midfield packed with quality.
“Competition will be very hard in midfield,” he said, “When you are given the chance to make a claim for a spot in the starting eleven you must try very hard to catch the eye of the coach. “
Makoun is in a unique position to comment on Puel’s style, whom he spoke of with respect. “For the moment, there are no differences between the Claude Puel of Lille and that of Lyon. He always wants to win.”
With close friend and compatriot Samuel Eto’o likely to move on this summer, Makoun was quick to dismiss any whispers that the Barcelona striker may be Lyon-bound. “I know him very well,” Makoun revealed, “We have played in the national team consistently together. I went to see his matches and came to him to see me in Lille.
“I spoke to him about Lyon immediately after I signed. But we did not enter discussions to make him come to Lyon. Agents deal with his sporting interests.
“It would be great if he came one day but I am not in a position to influence that.”
Robin Bairner
Speaking to Football365 ahead of Lyon’s match with Partizan Belgrade tomorrow evening, Makoun appeared to relish the new challenge. The Partizan clash marks the real outset of Makoun’s Lyon journey, as he tries to lay down a marker to establish himself as a first team regular in a midfield packed with quality.
“Competition will be very hard in midfield,” he said, “When you are given the chance to make a claim for a spot in the starting eleven you must try very hard to catch the eye of the coach. “
Makoun is in a unique position to comment on Puel’s style, whom he spoke of with respect. “For the moment, there are no differences between the Claude Puel of Lille and that of Lyon. He always wants to win.”
With close friend and compatriot Samuel Eto’o likely to move on this summer, Makoun was quick to dismiss any whispers that the Barcelona striker may be Lyon-bound. “I know him very well,” Makoun revealed, “We have played in the national team consistently together. I went to see his matches and came to him to see me in Lille.
“I spoke to him about Lyon immediately after I signed. But we did not enter discussions to make him come to Lyon. Agents deal with his sporting interests.
“It would be great if he came one day but I am not in a position to influence that.”
Robin Bairner
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February
The Swedish striker traditionally struggles in February. Facing a three-match ban this month, the jinx looks set to continue.
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
Advertisement
Advertisement
