Flashscore France: Paris… It’s quite a change from Brest. Has life (and the stress) in Paris thrown you off much?
"Pierre Lees-Melou: Oh yes, it’s a big change. Arriving in the capital, of course. Coming from Brest, where everything was 10 minutes away, it’s true that here, journeys are longer, there’s more traffic…
"It takes some getting used to. At first, it was a bit tough, but now I’m fine, I’ve adapted. And I’m really happy to be here: now we can start to explore our surroundings. The first few weeks were complicated - finding a place to live, staying in a hotel…
"It’s not easy. But now that we’re settled, everything’s much easier. Even if Brest is far away!"
You’ve played for well-established Ligue 1 clubs, like OGC Nice and Stade Brestois. What does it mean to you to be part of building an ambitious club from the ground up?
"It’s an exciting project. It’s always good to be involved in something ambitious. But as I often say, an ambitious project doesn’t guarantee success. Just because there’s a major investor doesn’t mean everything will be easy.
"You can see it: this year, nothing is simple. Ligue 1 is a tough league, everything comes down to fine details. But being part of the start of such an ambitious project - even if it began last year - is really enjoyable."
And to meet expectations, you have to perform. You’ve already played 13 matches (12 starts). First: how’s your shin? And second: how does your experience shape your daily life at Paris FC?
"The tests are reassuring. I don’t know yet if I’ll be fit for Saturday, but there’s nothing serious. It’s my right leg, the same one I injured before, but it’s unrelated: just a bad knock in the wrong spot that numbed the leg a bit. But nothing’s broken.
"As for the second part, my daily work, that’s a good question: I try to bring my professionalism and desire, as I always have. Experience doesn’t mean you rest on your laurels.
"On the contrary: I try to bring discipline, never slack off in training, always show hunger and aggression, even in practice. That’s what drives me and always has. I feel lucky to do this job. So I enjoy every session, every match. I know it’s not always perfect, but when it comes to effort and pushing myself, no one can fault me."
And physically, do you feel ready to keep going for a few more years?
"Mentally, I’m extremely fresh, not at all worn out by football. So it’ll really be my body that decides. In any case, my mind is still motivated and passionate. If I can play until I’m 40, I’ll go until I’m 40."
There’s an important run of matches coming up, after two defeats against big teams: Auxerre, Le Havre and Toulouse, with nine potential points that could really boost the team in the standings before the holidays. How do you see it?
"Ligue 1 is unpredictable. We’ve lost games we should have won, and won others where no one expected us to, like at Monaco. That’s part of the league’s charm.
"Wins against teams like Auxerre, Le Havre, and Toulouse would do us a lot of good, as they’re closer to our 'league', if I can say that without disrespect. And of those three matches, two are at home: it would be great to get back to being solid at home, to be tougher to beat, and above all, to start picking up points on our own turf."
Do you feel the squad is getting more and more prepared for the top flight as the weeks go by?
"Yes, definitely. Many were discovering Ligue 1 or hadn’t played much at this level. There’s always an adjustment period, and it has to be as quick as possible, because Ligue 1 is unforgiving.
"Now, everyone understands what this league demands. We often have regrets, because we do some good things, but we also make mistakes. Looking back at all our matches, except maybe the one against Lille this weekend - and even then - we can regret every point dropped. Now we need to turn those little details in our favour."
Was there something the coach or president said that made you realise you’d be an important player here?
"It was a combination of things. They were interested in me as a player, but also as a person, for my mindset. They talked to me about what I could bring in terms of experience. It’s always nice when a club recognises your values and asks you to bring them into their project. And I was at a point in my career where I wanted a new challenge, I’d done my time at Brest. The timing was perfect."
What’s your biggest asset at Paris FC? And how would you describe your role?
"My composure, my experience, my calmness. I don’t panic. I try to bring control, to manage the highs and lows. I’m not someone who gives big speeches in front of everyone.
"I don’t like that, I’m not a great speaker: I don’t talk much in groups, I prefer one-on-one. If I need to give advice, I’ll pull someone aside at training. I’m more of a leader by example and actions than by words."
Your role here is to bring experience, as you said. But what do you have to learn at Paris FC?
"You always have something to learn, even at 32. The coach has a different vision from what I’ve known. For example, he sometimes likes the number six to drop into the back four to make a back five and secure things. That’s something I’d never worked on before. So I’m adapting, I’m learning."
If I say: “Paris FC will be in Europe in two years,” what would you say?
"Why not? (laughs) Why not? Anything’s possible in football. Take Brest: no one thought we’d finish third and play in the Champions League. We were all at our peak, everything went our way, sure, but we earned it.
"We were a group of 14-15 players who really clicked. So yes, anything can happen. But I prefer to keep things calm: just because a club is ambitious and has resources doesn’t mean success comes right away."
How would you describe Paris FC’s ambition from the inside, and what’s the club’s biggest strength right now?
"I think they’re doing things the right way. They’re rebuilding from the ground up: financial management, sporting direction, revamping the training centre… They’re moving forward step by step. They’re investing, but not recklessly. They’re getting organised. Maybe it’ll turn out to be a mistake, but for now, I think it’s coherent."
And if you had to point out a weakness?
"Honestly, for now… Do you see one?"
I don’t, but do you? (laughs)
"Honestly, no. I actually think it’s a good thing they haven’t announced they want to play in the Champions League in the first year. They’re taking their time. And in a league like Ligue 1, you have to respect the process. Just because you have resources and invest in 3-4 players doesn’t mean you’ll be in the top five right away."
Jurgen Klopp is part of the structure. I read you haven’t had a chance to talk with him yet - is that still the case…
"Still the same, and I’m not especially looking to talk to him (laughs)."
But if you had the chance, since he’s such a big figure…
"Yes, of course, I wouldn’t mind, because he’s a big name in football and it’s always interesting to talk to people like him. But it’s not a goal either. Day to day, it’s mainly the sporting director, the coach, and the president who are really focused on PFC."
What’s surprised you most - in a good way - about this group? Has any player made a strong impression?
"What surprised me is how healthy the group is. They welcomed me really well, they love to joke around, and there’s a lot of banter. And I get my share too! (laughs) As for a player, I’d say Samir Chergui. I didn’t know him. But I’ve been impressed: he’s laid-back, funny, and on the pitch, he’s very disciplined, very strong. I’m not even sure he’s been beaten once."
Do you feel a special connection with any other player on the pitch?
"On the pitch, I quickly clicked with Maxime Lopez and Ilan Kebbal: they’re ball players, like me. It took a bit of time to figure out how each likes to receive the ball, but now I know them much better. When you join a new club, you don’t necessarily know all the players. Especially for me, since I didn’t really watch Ligue 2 matches - or even football in general."
When football is your daily life, do you want to watch something else during your downtime…
"Yes, I don’t watch a lot of football outside of work. On Monday mornings, I just watch the highlights on YouTube, and that’s enough for me. Watching full matches on TV is long. Sometimes I’ll watch National League videos, because I know some guys playing there. But it’s rare for me to watch a whole match. I do try to watch my old team though, like I watched Brest-Metz, for example.
Which match are you most looking forward to this season? Brest, Nice, Paris or… Lyon? (laughs)
Definitely Brest. Even though it came too soon, it was my second match. I would have liked to go back a bit later. But I was happy. Otherwise, Nice too, but that’s already done. PSG, we played them enough last year (laughs).
"Lyon, not really… So Brest, for sure. Going back to the Francis-Le Ble stadium, with all the great memories we had there. Even if it was a bit early, I was still happy to go back!
And for the rest of your career, given your background: could you see yourself staying in football after you retire?
"No. I love football, but being a coach or assistant means keeping the same pace, or even worse: more responsibility, more time away. I think after my career, I’ll need a more normal life. Maybe working with kids, yes, as a youth coach for example. But not managing a pro squad with all the egos these days… No thanks. I wouldn’t have the patience.
"In the end, you never really switch off. In fact, you work even more. You have more responsibility, because if you lose, it’s on you. And even for us, we train in the morning and then we’re done. After that, you go home. But coaches are there all afternoon. They prepare the next day’s sessions. Even for your wife and kids, who put up with this your whole career. Because when they think it’s finally over and you’ll be with them, well, no!
"But I’ll say it again, I’m lucky. What we experienced last year matches every three days and all that. Sure, we were never home, but it was so much fun. We didn’t complain. It was an incredible experience. We went far in the Coupe de France. But you know, as a player, that’s what you sign up for. And you’re happy because in the end, you actually train less. And that’s what you want (laughs). But having a second career? No, that would be a bit much."
A word about your time at Norwich? Why move to England instead of staying in Ligue 1?
"At Nice, I was starting my fifth season, and coach Galtier didn’t really count on me. I looked at the options I had and the Premier League opportunity came up. It’s a league everyone dreams of. So it happened very quickly.
"I loved my experience there. No regrets, except for the relegation. If we’d stayed four years in the Premier League, I’d have done everything to stay. I loved everything: the atmosphere, the people, the passion. It shaped me. I developed an aggression, a love for defending that I didn’t have before."
