Valbuena: “Olympiacos shaped my career”

Mathieu Valbuena spoke to the Olympiakos fixture list ahead of Monday’s (17/10) game against PAOK about his presence in the Red-Whites and how important it was for him to come to our country in 2019.

The France midfielder, who made 700 appearances in the home game against Qarabag, including 130 in Olympiakos, also spoke about his relationship with the ‘Red and White’ world.

Valbuena’s statements and the match program for the match against PAOK in detail:

In the home game against Qarabag you played 700 games at club and country level. It was your 130th appearance with Olympiakos. What else does this team mean to you? How will you remember her when your career is over?

“Olympiacos is something that means many things to me. It shaped me a lot when I finished my career with the national team. It’s true that all the passion that unites this club, the atmosphere in the stadium, are things that shaped me.” It’s a family club, a club that I feel like hugging me every day. So I can say a lot of positive things about Olympiakos and all the people who love him are like my family.”

When you signed for Olympiakos, did you expect that this tenure would develop like this with so many games, so many assists and so many successes?

“It’s true, when I signed for Olympiakos in 2019 I might never have expected to show that kind of performance. But for me the most important thing is that I’ve found a place where I feel safe and from where I can incredibly happy.” I had a lot of support from the fans and from everyone who works here and it’s true that Jose Anigo did everything to get me to sign for Olympiakos.

All of this is a beautiful story and it is true that now after completing four years in Greece with Olympiakos I feel tremendous happiness. What gives me the most is the support I get from the fans and the love they have shown me. It’s something priceless. Even if I play five minutes, I feel like I’ve gained a lot as a player and as a person.”

What is your strongest memory of Olympiakos?

“The game against Arsenal because I experienced incredible emotions. We lost the first game 1-0, but we won at the Arsenal stadium in the last minute with Youssef’s goal. That was something wonderful and that’s why we do this profession to experience such incredible emotions. Everything I experienced in that game with Arsenal is something very important in my career.”

Has petite Mathieu Valbuena fulfilled his footballing dreams?

“It’s true that becoming a professional footballer has been my dream since the beginning. This year I’m in my 17th season and I’m very proud of my journey. I feel like I was born to be a professional and I’ve achieved everything my dreams, because I played on all the big stages in Europe and was able to take part in a world championship.

I’ve also played a lot of games in European competitions, such as the Champions League, which is the most beautiful competition. I played at Marseille and Olympiacos, two clubs that are very similar. The fact that I played for my country as an international was a dream come true and I’m very proud of that.”

Do you want to stay in Greece forever or have you never thought about it?

“Yes, I really love Greece. I’m really in love with her, because here we live well, we feel comfortable. I know that the people around me love me and that is priceless. I really love Greece. We’ll see what happens next, but I think it’s clear that I intend to stay here for many years to come.”

Many Olympiacos fans called you a quarterback because of the way you played. How would you describe yourself?

“For me the fans are something very important because I’m a passionate person and football is my whole life. So without the fans we are nothing. And it’s true that the fans have given me a lot of love and that gives me even more. ” I want to fight every game, every ball and I want them to be able to count on me, they give me extra strength and when I feel like they are there for me it’s amazing.

There is also a lot of pressure and that motivates me. So thank you for all the support. You know that because I’ve talked to you many times, to Gate 7 and to other fans. Knowing that you can count on me. I’ll always be there whether I’m playing or not and I’ll try to give everything to help the team. Olympiacos is much more important than any other player.”