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He doesn’t look to hide from the difficult period that he experienced at the end of his loan to Cercle Bruges, last season. And more than anything, the consequences that the period had. At 22 years old, Arnaud Lusamba had never really demonstrated his talent and impeccable technique since arriving at Le Gym in 2016. Never until this summer. A changed man, the midfielder has had a quality start to the season, after getting his chance from Patrick Vieira on Matchday 2. Inspired, different, he has started six of nine matches in L1 and has changed the dynamic of a midfield that he is making his own. Before Paris, “Chino” left the field to speak. Frankly.

Arnaud, how are you feeling at the start of this season? 

Good. There a lots of young players in the team, I already knew most of them. The coach is giving me good advice, I can see that he is putting his confidence in me. It’s important. I get the feeling that there has been a turning point which means that I can let myself go on the pitch, to really show what I am worth. 

How can you explain this turning point?

It must have come from my loan to Bruges last year. I was playing match after match there, and was performing well (25 matches played between August 2018 and March 2019, Editor’s note). Then, what happened, happened... I won’t go into the details. I made errors. It gave me a reality check. For three to four months, I was reflecting on things. I said to myself: “This is not the career that I want to have. I need to take things in hand.” I realised that I needed to get seriously down to work. I worked, worked and I continue to do so. My objective is to do what I need to in training to make the coach ask himself the right questions. If he puts his confidence in me, it’s down to me to pay him back on the pitch. 

“I have already heard that I was a new recruit. I can’t criticise those people who have said that to me.”

On a sporting level, what did your loan at Cercle Bruges bring you?

It allowed me to find my confidence. I played match after match in the box to box role, things went well with the players and supporters. I refound my rhythm. The Jupiler League is a very tough and very physical league, where games are played extremely directly. Despite what happened at the end, it was a good experience.

Did you think about leaving OGC Nice this summer?

Those around me spoke to me about it but my answer didn’t change: I wanted to show everybody that I could play for Nice, and to prove to those that signed me that they hadn’t made a mistake. At the moment, things are going well, I hope that it will continue and I am doing all I can for that to be the case. It’s down to me to perform because football is tough and a player is judged on his consistency. 

Do you get the feeling that you are “still a recruit”?

I have already heard this phrase lots of times. I can’t criticise the people who have said this to me. I had never shown this side of me in Nice, they didn’t really know the real me. I see the change in some things though. When I am in my car, people are now saying nice things to me, it makes me happy. It’s strange, because you wouldn’t have thought it, but I was here before (he smiles). I know the place well.

How has Coach Vieira put his confidence in you?  

Given that I worked well, I was in good shape at the start of pre-season. I saw that he was talking to me and giving me lots of advice. In my head, I said to myself: “He is interested in me, I need to continue.” He is very close to the players, he likes having a laugh with us, but work is work. That closeness put me at ease. With him, I feel good, relaxed.

Playing at centre forward at the start of the season, was that a good step?

The first time that I played there was against Nîmes (Matchday 2, 2-1 victory). The evening before the game, in training, the coach said to me: “Tomorrow, I am almost certainly going to start you at number 9. I know that it isn’t your position, but I need you to help the team there.” I said yes straight away, without a moment’s thought. It was special but to help the squad, no problem. If I need to play there again, I will do it, but I must admit midfield is my position, it’s a lot better.

With the benefit of hindsight, how does the match against Nantes leave you feeling?

The same way it did straight after the match, disappointed. It’s not the performance we wanted to put in. We lacked agression compared with them, and against Nantes you need to put in more than usual. Now, we need to focus on something else.

What do you make of the first nine games on the whole?

There were quite a few changes, arrivals, departures. The team is yet to be 100% in place, there are still a few tweaks to be made, but what we have done so far is pretty good. Then again, not everything was perfect, there are still things to improve on. We are working on them.

“As soon as we take our foot off the pedal, something happens”

And if you had to find a positive?

The cohesion amongst the team. On the pitch, we are finding each other, we talk the same football. That’s what we need to keep and develop.

And what area needs more work?

Our final ball, we need to be more efficient. In terms of our concentration too. Sometimes, we can be very good but as soon as we take our foot off the pedal, something bad happens straight away. We need to keep our concentration from start to finish, even if that isn’t always easy. 

How do you feel about the rest of the season? 

The players, the coach, the supporters: everything is in place to go on and have a good season. It starts with Paris. We have thought a lot about this match over the last two weeks. To say that it is a match like any other would be a lie. Paris are a huge side, with very good players. It will be difficult, but we play football for these moments. We have worked well and have recovered well over the international break: it’s down to us to enjoy ourselves and to do what we know we can do.

How has the international break been?

It has allowed us to keep our rhythm. We also faced Lausanne, which did us some good (0-0). In training, the coach has focused on certain things and we have been able to concentrate on very specific things with a slightly reduced squad. During the international breaks, the coach can also spend a bit more time with certain players to explain what he expects of them. These are good periods. Now we are looking forward to getting back underway. 

Arnaud was speaking to C.D.

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