New face of LOSC, whose colors he has only been defending for a few months, Osame Sahraoui was at a press conference this Thursday, the day before the upcoming clash against OL. A perfect opportunity for him to confide in his adaptation to the Mastiffs.
How is your integration at LOSC going?
It's not easy to change your environment, to change everything. You change your place of life, your teammates, your competition. It's all a question of adaptation. The first months were good. I always thought about evolving step by step, not going too quickly. Otherwise, you can quickly injure yourself or experience mental fatigue. But everything went well. The group was fantastic to me, everyone took care of me and made me feel very welcome. I am very happy about all this, although it is always difficult to change everything.
Has anything surprised you since your arrival in France?
Nothing really surprised me. The level of play is obviously higher here. In the Netherlands, where I played, everything was in English. Here, the staff speaks French. I will be taking French lessons very soon, hoping that I will be able to speak French the next time I come to a press conference.
You were one of the best dribblers in the Eredivisie, how do you adapt your game to the demands of French football and the team?
I was one of the best dribblers in the Netherlands but, to be honest, dribbling is not an obsession for me. If I can use it, and all my abilities, to help the team, that's the most important thing. The most important thing is to win, to score goals, to make assists, to take the three points. I am discovering a new championship, with bigger clubs and better opponents. I just need, honestly, to adapt to these new oppositions. I'm just learning, always step by step. Just by being on the field, I gain experience to have better sensations and be more and more comfortable. If I have to dribble less, pass more and defend more to help my team, I will do it.
How are your first months in Lille going? Have you ever visited the city?
I live in Lille, but I won't tell you where, because I don't want you to come knocking on my door (laughing). I live alone, but I have a lot of family members who come to visit me regularly. It's important for me not to stay too alone, I don't want to go crazy (smile). As for my knowledge of French, it's mainly when I arrive in the locker room, so I know the basic expressions to say hello. I try to learn more and more. Regarding the city, I visited Lille a little. It's a very beautiful city. There are plenty of things to see and do, great places to eat. I don't know yet what I prefer, because I need to see a little more (smile). But it's a beautiful city and I love being here.
