Atalanta-Young Boys, Champions: intervista a Jordan Lefort

He has beaten Cristiano Ronaldo twice in less than two years, leads Group F and is ready to wow Europe. The Young Boys were supposed to be the Cinderella of the group with Manchester United, Villarreal and Atalanta, but now they land in Bergamo with three points in the standings after the amazing victory over Manchester United and the suitcase full of dreams. French defender Jordan Lefort has won two championships and a Swiss Cup in less than two years in Bern. In the first round of the Champions League he was injured (calf problem), today he is at the disposal of coach David Wagner. “I hope to at least go to the bench”, he confides to the Gazzetta.

Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo came to Bern twice, once with Juventus and once with Manchester United, but he didn’t put any points in his suitcase on the way back: how do you explain it?
“We are a surprising team, especially when we play at home. A little for the thrust of our fans, a little for the synthetic ground, we manage to complicate life even for the so-called big players.”

Here, the field. Some say it gives you too much advantage …

“The synthetic allows us to play football well because it does not have irregular rebounds. We are talking about a state-of-the-art field: we are used to it, others maybe not. But I wonder: if a pitch is perfect for controlling the ball it should be a problem? In Bern you can simply play football in the best conditions. “

But tomorrow you will play in Bergamo, against Atalanta.

“A team that plays very offensive football, using the three-man defense. We have admired it in the Champions League in the last two years and it seems to me a club in constant evolution, a bit like us. Their strength is above all the collective.”

Atalanta must be careful of the Young Boys because … you complete the sentence.
“Because we are a surprise and very organized. We know how to play football in the true sense of the word. Yes, I think the Nerazzurri should fear us.”

Villarreal, Manchester United and Atalanta: tell the truth, at the time of the draw no one thought you had a chance to go through. But after the victory over United… what percentage does Young Boys give to advance to the Champions League?
“I don’t like talking about percentages. We are happy to have won the first one, because with another three points we would be close to the first goal and that is to stay in Europe, even if it were third in the group. But I don’t set limits, let’s see what happens in the match. in game “.

Until a few years ago, Swiss football in Europe was essentially Basel and the national team. Then the Young Boys exploded. You won the last championship by 31 points. How was it possible in such a short time to completely reverse the course?
“The credit goes to Stephane Chapuisat and Christoph Spycher, enlightened leaders. They have made a real revolution in the club, making it more structured. Now the Young Boys have a precise policy, with clear ideas and objectives.”

You dominated in Switzerland, yet there was only one Young Boys player (Fassnacht) at the European Championship: do you think they still underestimate you internationally?
“With the arrival of Yakin as coach in place of Petkovic, the wind has already changed. In the last Swiss call-ups there were five Young Boys players. And this is good for the club, but also for the national team, a my opinion “.

But she is French. And to be precise, Parisian. Messi, Mbappé and Neymar: his city is in turmoil.
“Against Kylian’s PSG and the Brazilian I played with Amiens in Ligue 1 and it was already something impressive. Now Leo has also joined and what can I say? Incredible. I think PSG can be considered the favorite for the victory of the Champions League. But beyond the results of the single club, having those three increases interest in all French football. ”

The city that adopted it in football in France is Amiens. And in the hardest months of the pandemic she found a way to repay …
“I wanted to help the precarious students of the city, who have seen their already complicated situation worsen with Covid. I too was a student in difficult economic conditions and I know how hard it can be. Let alone with the pandemic. So I joined a student in difficult economic conditions. ‘local association, giving my support for the distribution of food and essential needs “.

Let’s go back to Italy: so, what do you expect from this trip to Bergamo?
“Honestly? That the pasta is good at the hotel (laughs)”.