With the restart approaching at FC Lorient, we gave our ambassador Yoane Wissa a call to look back with him on his title win, FC Lorient's promotion to Ligue 1, his now legendary celebration and his views on Footboks. The Merlus striker answered in his trademark style: lively, punchy but always composed. An exclusive interview for Footboks.
A zen guy, we told you
Hi Yoane, first of all, how are you?
I'm very well, thanks! The weather's nice, football is back, we're doing fine, health is good, family too, and that's what matters most today.
Have you gone back training with the squad?
Right now we have medical tests until Friday with the doctors: the COVID test, the isokinetic test, the cardio test, and we'll see the physios, the fitness coach and the dentist. The full start-of-season check-up, basically. We'll start back with the group next week, from Monday 22nd.
So training restarts on Monday. Are you feeling good, are you ready?
Yes, I'm ready, and I can't wait to start a new season with new objectives now that we're in Ligue 1!
How did it feel to finish as champion?
Honestly, I'm very, very proud, even though we would have liked to celebrate on the pitch with our fans and everyone in good health. Events meant we had to stop, but I'm still very proud to have made the supporters happy and, above all, to have helped the club return to Ligue 1.
Can you say a word about the supporters this season?
They were there, they never let us down. To be fair, we did the job on the pitch and gave everything too, but in any case I can't wait to see them again in Ligue 1.
How do you assess FC Lorient's season?
It's obviously very positive collectively. We finish as Ligue 2 champions and we were on the podium for 27 matchdays out of 28, so that's not nothing. But above all we had a really great squad and I was very happy to play and to get promoted to Ligue 1 with this group.
What made this group so strong this season?
The recruitment was very smart, because the players who arrived were all, so to speak, “captains”. I mean players who all knew Ligue 2, and that's what made the difference: experience. This year we had a lot more of it and we were better prepared. The coach also had that experience of promotions, and even in difficult moments he showed us we always had to be there and show up.
You had a huge number of attacking options with you, Hamel, Bozok, Laurienté, Cabot, Kitala, Le Fée, Marvaux... it's a real attacking armada!
It's true we had a very good squad and, going forward, a great range with a big diversity of profiles. That's what made us strong. Even those who were on the bench, like me at one point for a few matches, were keen to show the others and the coach that they could count on us.
You've just been voted into the fans' Domino's Ligue 2 team of the season. How did that feel?
It made me proud, I was really happy. It's the supporters who watch us all, and that's a different kind of view. Being chosen by the supporters isn't like other votes. Let's hope it keeps going in this direction.
Yann Kitala, Thomas Fontaine, Yoane Wissa and Armand Laurienté, the ZEN team. Photo FCL - Bruno Perrel
How do you rate your season?
It was positive. I'm very happy with my output because I played almost every match. Compared with last season it's also a real personal revenge; I was keen to show the supporters that I was still there.
You still finished as the club's top assist provider last season...
Yes, that's true, but it's in terms of efficiency that it's a revenge. Last season I created a lot of chances but I wasn't necessarily on form. This year, thanks to a lot of mental preparation and a desire to move forward, I managed to find that efficiency, so that's my revenge. What lets me enjoy this year even more is the promotion to Ligue 1. I've built up a lot of confidence, and now I have to keep it and carry on in the same vein.
What does Ligue 1 mean to you?
It's a dream come true, a bit. Since I was a kid I've always watched Ligue 1, so being there is a huge source of pride, for me, for my family, for my town of Épinay-sous-Sénart, and I'm very happy to get there, especially with my background, coming from the bottom.
Can you tell us about your zen celebration?
I pulled it out in the first match we played at home, against PFC. I'd come on, I'd scored and I did this celebration, which means calm, being composed and always staying focused despite everything you might hear.
How did it feel to see it copied by quite a few players? Do you plan to keep it for next season?
The PSG players did it, but that was more to wind us up. Seeing Haaland do it in the Champions League was nice to see, though. It's not MY celebration, I didn't create it either, but I'm happy people know it and that it's spread a bit. For next season I'm going to keep it, it represents me well! I became like this through hard work, so I'm going to keep doing it, that's for sure!
THE Yoane Wissa celebration! Photo FCL - Bruno Perrel
When you look at your career so far, what do you think?
I think I've matured a lot. I come from National, then landed at Angers where I didn't play much, with a loan to Laval. Then I bounced back at Ajaccio and chose to come to Lorient for a great challenge, and I'm continuing with this big leap to Ligue 1!
What do you think of Footboks?
I really like it because it evolves; it's not one Footboks box and that's it, it's for the long term. There are always new products and it really helps in the pursuit of performance. It helps me when I need to recover well or get my strength back at very specific moments.
What does it bring you in the day-to-day practice of elite sport?
It brings me performance, clearly, and that's what I'm looking for. What I want is to last over time and spare myself any physical or mental setback. It also lets me readjust certain things, especially when you feel you have too much or not enough load. It also helps me recover better with the care products; I do a bit more on the invisible work.
Is that invisible work something you keep control of?
Yes, for me it has become very important, and I really changed in this respect from last season, whether in my daily lifestyle or even in training. And this season is proof that it works, it really paid off.
Do you have a favourite product?
I think it's the arnica cream, I like a little massage, and it did me good this season because I played a lot of matches back to back. But I know Thomas Fontaine is a fan of the caffeine chewing gum! I did my behind-the-scenes work in the dressing room!
Do you have a message for those who'd like to get started?
Go for it, give it a try and you'll see the benefits it gives you. For me it brings a lot in my pursuit of performance, it's the little extra in my invisible work.
