Corentin Tolisso: Lyon captain excited for crucial Marseille clash
Lyon travels to Marseille on Sunday (8:45 pm) with Corentin Tolisso as one of its key players. Ahead of one of the decisive games for the Champions League, Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso, aged 31, believes he is experiencing the “best moment” of his career. With the opportunity to distance themselves from Marseille by eight points with a win at the Vélodrome, which is always electric for the Olympico.
“This is a classic Olympico, a meeting that supporters eagerly anticipate, even if they are not able to attend. It’s always better when they are there, but it shouldn’t change much,” explained Corentin Tolisso. “These are the types of games where we enjoy the most when we win because in the end, we are proud, we feel something very strong inside,” acknowledged the 2018 World Cup champion.
The native of Tarare is having a standout season with Lyon, making him a candidate for the French national team ahead of this summer’s World Cup. He has already scored nine goals, five in the league and four in the Europa League. He notably scored in the last two matches against Nice (2-0) and Strasbourg (1-3), where Lyon suffered their first loss in over two months after thirteen consecutive victories in all competitions.
Tolisso enjoys these kinds of matches
Tolisso admitted on Friday in a press conference that he is “experiencing the best moment of (his) career.” “Whether in private life or professionally, I am truly fulfilled. It shows on the field. I am very happy in my role as captain. Guiding the team is enjoyable,” he elaborated. He will wear the armband for his childhood club for the first time in an Olympico in Marseille: “It will be a lot of pleasure for me to lead the way at the Vélodrome, as it is every time. I like these matches. When I was young, I dreamt of being a professional footballer and especially playing a high-stakes match like this one with a good atmosphere,” continued Tolisso, stating he plays football for this reason. “In the ten years I have been playing, between last season and this one, in terms of continuity, this is when I feel the best, there is no doubt about it,” confirmed the midfielder.
He began his professional career at Lyon (2013-2017) before spending five years at Bayern Munich (2017-2022) where he was transferred for €41.5 million. In Bavaria, he won everything, including the Champions League in 2020. The experienced midfielder is not fazed by the importance of the Marseille match, dismissing the notion that this game is already “a final” for the top three or Champions League qualification.
“Maintain humility”
“There will be many more matchdays after this. Nothing will be decided at the Vélodrome even if we could have an eight-point lead with a win, which would be significant,” he commented. “Things can change quickly. Not long ago, we were five points behind Lille and now we have an eight-point lead over them,” he pointed out.
“The most important thing is to maintain the humility that has driven us since the beginning of the season. Personally, I approach every game with a certain mindset, the idea of being successful. And for this one, it will be the same,” he concluded, convinced that tactical aspects and intensity will be key in the match.
