Idrissa Gueye: 'Everyone will be ready, motivated & 200% focussed'

Idrissa, just like the rest of the team, it seems that you feel really good physically right now?

I think it's the same for everyone. We needed a bit of time to get into shape and try to go forward, because it was a difficult time for everyone, especially for us who reached the [Champions League] final and who then started immediately with the league. It was difficult. You can see it's the same thing for other clubs in other countries.

A new coach came in during the winter break. How did the squad react to that?

It went really well for everyone. We saw that the coach is very nice and that he's open to all the players, that he's here to help the team move forward. He's got to know the players, personally at first and then on the pitch, getting the best out of each individual and building a good team.

What has changed specifically during training sessions?

There's a lot of intensity. When the coach came in, we did a lot of running and we were expecting that. We knew he's a coach who likes intensity in training sessions and that he makes his players run a lot. We had a lot of physical work, because he clearly thought that we were a little off the pace physically. That enabled us to be better on the pitch, to have a bit more confidence and to know that we can finish matches without being physically tired.

How do you, the players, feel as the hunters rather than the hunted in the title race?

It's quite a difficult season for everyone given the situation. Without the fans in the stands, when teams come to the Parc, they don't have the pressure they had before. This season, we don't have a lead like we did in previous seasons. Now, it's up to us to give everything. The most important thing is to finish this season and to finish as champions. And after that, we'll forget all of this. It'll only be memories, I hope.

After winning in the league and the Coupe de France, you now have to concentrate on the Champions League. Is it easy for a player to do that?

Sometimes it's difficult, especially when the matches come thick and fast because you get mentally and physically tired. We have to try and keep a handle on that with the technical staff, we try to recover well. We must not think about things to much, we always have to stay connected. It doesn't matter whether it's the Coupe de France, the league or the Champions League. You always have to keep the same level of intensity, the same level of discipline and preparation.

How do you feel with two days to go before the game against Barcelona? 

As I said, we're ready for every situation. I was a lot more apprehensive about the game against Brest, for the preparation, the focus, than for the matches against Barcelona where everyone will be ready, motivated and 200% focussed.

A year ago, there was the second leg against Dortmund which is one of the best memories of the club with its fans. They won't be here this time, is that difficult for you?

There were a lot of good memories last season with the trophies, what we won during the Final 8, but the match against Dortmund, with the fans that came to celebrate with us, was magnificent. Unfortunately, we won't have that this year. In any case, I hope they'll do something to motivate us even more and allow us to experience the same things as we did last year.