100 appearances in Ligue 1. A round figure and all of them came in a red and black shirt. Add to that an extra 13 in cup matches and the European double encounter against Limassol. An ever present amongst the first eleven at the Allianz Riviera, Nemanja Pejcinovic (2010-2014) never imagined that he would be back playing there four years later for Lokomotiv Moscow. But the Europa League draw decided differently: the date is fixed for 15 Februrary.

Lokomotiv Moscow will face OGC Nice in the Round of 32 of the Europa League. How did you react when the draw was made?

“Sh… ! It will either be me or the Gym!” Exactly what I didn’t want. It touched me. I spent four years in Nice. It’s a strange feeling 

In Russia, you must be the person that everybody looked to... 

Everyone came to me to ask for information, yes. “Are they a good side?”, that was the most common question, even though Balotelli, Dante and Sneijder are known throughout the world. I received a lot of messages from France too. From my friends, employees of the club... One thing is sure: I know that I will be expected by the people there. 

In leaving the Gym in 2014 to go to Russia, did you ever imagine you would play at the Allianz Riviera again one day?

I didn’t think that I would play there again, no. But I think that it is destiny... 

When you think about Nice, what comes to mind immediately? 

OGC Nice! The Ray, the inauguration of the Allianz, the friends that I have kept… Lots of memories of matches too. The win over Marseille at the Allianz (1-0, 18 October 2013) with the goal from Dario after a pass from Mahamane Traore. A crazy match. Like the win at the Ray over Paris (2-1, 1 December 2012).

Have you stayed in touch with your former teammates? 

Mainly Renato (Civelli). We were very close at the time; and we are still friends. I arrived as a youngster (22 years old) and he was a lot more experienced than me. His advice was precious. I watched how he did things, I listened to what he said. Our partnership? I don’t know if we scared people, but without a doubt, we gave 100%. We did our job. And we even scored some goals...

What keeps that link between you and Nice?

It’s my second home after Serbia. I came in mid-December, as soon as our season ended. For the first time in two years. I will spend time here again this winter. When I come here, I feel different. Like I am at home. I feel a warmth - and not just from the sun. 

That must make a change from Moscow... 

The weather is a little less harsh, that’s for sure (laughs)! But to be honest, the snow just an hour away, the sun throughout the year... It’s beautiful. The last days of training in Moscow, it was -5°C. And that isn’t that cold when you compare to the times when I have played at -12°C. At those temperatures, I can tell you that gloves don’t quite cut it…

Will it be an advantage for you in the second leg? 

It will be a lot colder than in Nice, that’s for sure. But we will see how much of an impact it has. And unlike yourselves, it will be our first match back after the break...

“In Russia, football doesn’t have the same importance as it does in France” 

Life in Moscow? 

Apart from the expected traffic jams everyday, it’s a metropolis. It’s lovely. I really like it there. It’s a beautiful city, I have my little life, I take the train...

Without being swamped by supporters? 

No, I am rarely recognised and not especially popular. I have a classic way of dressing, often with at a hat on... I am left to be (he smiles). And in general, football doesn’t have the same importance as it does in France.

You have also cut off the mop that you grew here in Nice...

In my first year in Russia, yes. I now save myself a lot of time in the morning (laughs).

How often do you follow OGC Nice’s result?

I always look at their results and I am regularly in touch with people from the club. I often play at the same time as Nice but on average, I normally get to see 5-10 games a season.

Your opinion on the team? 

They are a very good side despite what the month of November could lead you to believe. Balotelli and Plea are very good. The pace on the wing… Saint-Maximin, is that right? His speed, it’s incredible. The defence is experienced, the midfield is strong... and I felt that in the last games, things were going much better. In February, I have no doubts that you will be ready.

Mario Balotelli will be for you then?

We will see, but he may well be hanging about in my area, yes. I know that in Nice, he is the star. And that he is capable of turning a game around with just one move. But it will be the whole team on the pitch. And things will also depend on how they use Balotelli. It’s down to us to be attentive.  

Less than 4 years after your departure, the faces have changed a lot...

I knew Koziello who was training with us for the first time. Also Cardinale and Papy Mendy. The technical and medical staff. But also, the coach, Favre, who I was with for six months with Hertha Berlin, and I have excellent memories of him. He was a very good coach, who knew how to speak, and to transmit his motivation. He liked players who were both tactically and technically strong.

At Nice, you were close to René Marsiglia…

An adorable man. Incredible. Always positive. A great sense of humour, he always had some good jokes. I keep lots of great memories with him. We say that the Gods often take the best people first. With him, that's the case.

"I wanted to play in Europe with Nice"

With the benefit of hindsight, do you feel that you achieved your objectives with Nice? 

I wanted to play in Europe with the club. But we failed against Limassol. And in the league, unfortunately, I only really participated in fights against the drop. But that's the way it is. In the end, I only keep the very best memories.

The words that Nema' left in the comments book at the end of his final season in Nice. 

Today?

Things are going well. I have won two Russian Cups and we are top at the break. I hope to win the league maybe even a SuperCup. I am coming to the end of my contract in June, but before anything else, I want to achieve certain things.

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Lokomotiv seem to be incredibly solid...

We have Farfán (ex-Schalke), Fernandes (ex-Valencia) or even Ari (ex-Krasnodar) who you faced last year. How many did he score? Two? Apart from that, we have some good Russians. In defence, there is me, a Georgian, a Croat... Quite an experienced middle...

In which language do you speak?

Serb-Croat with some, Russian with most. I get by rather well.. These languages that I have learned, these cultures that I have discovered, it's another form of richness for my career.

The Stade Lokomotiv?

A nice modern stadium. It can only be 15 years old (inaugurated in 2002). We have good supporters, a few more given the strong start to our season. But they aren't the most violent. They aren't there just to have a fight.

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The Russian league?

It's growing, both in quality and intensity. The 4-5 teams who were promoted are right at the top of the league. And apart from us who have got a bit of a gap between us and them, they are all around about 1 or 2 points from each other. 

At 30 years old, you still have a few years of football ahead of you. What do you want to do for the rest of your career?

Win more titles. Beginning with the Russian league, this season with Lokomotiv. And to play in the Champions League until the end of my career.
 

Y.F.

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