Montemurro: “I was told about the OL derby

Joe Montemurro, Women’s OL Coach (@UEFA)

Arriving at OL to take over from Sonia Bompastor, Joe Montemurro does not have the Lyon fiber of his predecessor. However, the Australian coach is well aware of the importance of what the derby represents in Lyon.

He was dressed all in red this Friday, on the eve (9 p.m.) of the derby againstAS Saint-Etienne. Anyway, Joe Montemurro won't wear green, no matter what. Arriving at OL during the summer, the Australian coach quickly learned his lesson: that of not having any green on him. “I've been told since day one that I'm not allowed to wear green and so I don't wear it”declared the Lyon coach this Friday on the eve of the derby against the Greens. Unlike Sonia Bompastorcertainly not a Lyonnaise by birth, but who has become a Lyonnaise at heart over the course of his career, Joe Montemurro could have seen himself detached from this regional meeting, which already does not have the same flavor as among the boys.

It’s ultimately quite the opposite. This match is “a special match” even if the coach doesn't want to overdo it either. “The derby is to be won, he said with a smile in French before switching back to English. Since day one, they've been teaching me that at the club. Although my accent may not be perfect. This is an important occasion. It's always wonderful to play this kind of match. But the reality of why I love being at OL is the difficulty of all the matches because everyone comes to beat OL and puts in 10% more.”

“It’s difficult for an Arsenal fan like me to pronounce the word Tottenham”

Arriving at OL in June, Joe Montemurro had four months to get used to the derby. However, he is far from being a novice on the issue. Him, the fan ofArsenalwas able to experience the frenzied encounters against Tottenhamwhether as a supporter then as coach of the women's team. A tense atmosphere among the boys, less so with the women, even if the rivalry has always been there. “The rivalry with Tottenham was fierce, especially for an Arsenal fan. Pronouncing the word Tottenham is difficult for me (smile). There were other very difficult matches against Chelsea or between Juve and Roma derbies are always special, exciting and everyone wants to play them.”

He may not be a derby man OL – ASSE in him, but Joe Montemurro remains above all a football lover and a derby has no borders.