LOSC will face Liverpool, the leader of the Champions League, on Tuesday evening. Victorious over Real and Atlético de Madrid, Bruno Genesio's players attack another great European who has only known victory in his European campaign. For the second time in its history, LOSC will return to the legendary Anfield stadium where French clubs have often lost their teeth.
Mathieu Valbuena is not about to forget October 3, 2007 at Anfield. The Marseille midfielder scored with a magnificent strike into the top corner from Pepe Reina, the only goal of the match giving the first French victory on Liverpool's pitch.
“It’s something mythical and historical, which we keep in our heads forever,” explains the main person involved. “But above all it's the atmosphere that reigns at Anfield… You do this job to experience emotions like these. You play on a cake and I think that shouldn't have changed. 'You'll never walk alone', it gives you chills and the desire to give everything, to be able to have fun because above all it's a pleasure to play these matches.”
Two years later, Olympique Lyonnais did it again by winning 2-1 on the Reds' pitch thanks to Gonalons and Delgado. But we will leave it there for the French victories. Apart from that, there was only one draw obtained by OM in 2004, with a goal from Didier Drogba.
“It gives you chills”
Even if French clubs have often experienced defeat (PSG, Toulouse, Lille), the fact of having set foot on the pitch at Anfield and having heard the famous chant “You'll never walk alone” is a source of pride. “It gives you chills, like the first time I heard the music of the Champions League,” explains Florent Balmont, who faced Steven Gerrard’s teammates in March 2010, for a 3-0 defeat.
“As a player, it’s great to take part in matches like that, even if we lost,” continues Balmont. “In addition, LOSC had chartered a plane for women and families, everything had been done to ensure that we remember that. For me in terms of atmosphere, it is one of my best European travel.”
His teammate at the time Franck Béria, today in the LOSC recruitment unit, is more measured about his time at Anfield. “The images we saw before going there were on TV and it made things very sacred. When we arrived in the locker room, we were quite surprised because the spaces were smaller than I thought. “It's a stadium that has a history and is still in its original form.”
-Béria adds: “In France, we are now used to having large stadiums and we don't have to be ashamed of the atmosphere and the infrastructure. Aside from the 'You'll never walk alone' which is specific to their history, the atmosphere did not disturb me, I did not feel threatened. But I was delighted to be in this enclosure because we know that there are beautiful things that have happened. there.”
Anfield has grown since LOSC's last visit
The former LOSC left back was surprised by the access to the pitch. “The corridor was very narrow and I'm not sure if we could have entered the pitch with the two teams side by side, I think we had to be staggered or one behind the other. “It seemed very small. Once again it's a stadium that's in its original state, I don't know if that's changed since then.”
It turns out that since LOSC's visit, Anfield has undergone several renovations and increased its capacity. In 2015, the stadium increased from 45,000 to 54,000 seats. Today the Liverpool stadium can accommodate more than 61,000 supporters. LOSC right-back Thomas Meunier, who played and scored in this stadium with PSG in 2018 (3-2 defeat), loves old stadiums steeped in history.
“Having played for several clubs in England like Manchester, Chelsea, Birmingham, frankly, I like this slightly traditional side,” explains the Belgian. “For example, playing Arsenal in the new stadium is not the same as playing at Higbury. It's the same for Tottenham. But at Anfield, I like this modernity. We keep the old side, we put it up to date and we make the opposing teams feel that it is English football, especially for the European Cup matches because all this does not only represent a club, it is a football culture and it is still beautiful and very present in the Premier League. It's this side. a little bit old-fashioned which makes us remember this kind of moment.”
But Tuesday evening, LOSC hopes not to come back with only good memories. At Anfield, Bruno Genesio's men are aiming for a third feat in this Champions League, after having brought down Real Madrid and Atlético. The challenge is immense given Liverpool's status as perhaps the best team in Europe at the moment.
