Landry N’Guemo has given an interesting insight into his season at Celtic to Cameroon website camfoot.
Lurid revelations ‘lifting the lid’ in these type of interviews is often due to the content being lost in translation and it’s not easy to pick up the fine detail in the google translation.
There are a few mentions of the coach but it’s unclear whether the midfielder is referring to Tony Mowbray who signed him on loan or Neil Lennon who decided to spend his transfer budget elsewhere.
The physical nature of the Scottish game is highlighted alongside predictable attempts to highlight players drinking exploits without producing any detail.
‘Buffet filled cakes’ were apparently enjoyed by players some of who ate ‘hearty meals’ just hours before matches.
N’Guemo has played 26 games for Nancy this season and is available on a Bosman in the summer.
Click here is the full transript/translation, if any French readers can provide a truer insight please feel free to add your own comments/interpretation.
Since your last season ASNL in 2008/2009, there was a loan of one year at Celtic Glasgow but also a World Cup. This is not the same Lee who returned to Nancy?
I’m always N’Guemo Landry (laughs). It is true that I experienced many things since there was also an African Cup of Nations. Now, it’s not for me to judge if it allowed me to take a step. Some think so and told me, but I do not really notice. What is certain is that I learned from everything I’ve experienced, it has increased my luggage and probably accelerated my progress.
What took place at Celtic drives?
There was a large group with about thirty players, because we trained with the reserve. There, even in practice, the players do not calculate and give themselves fully to earn their place. Since the policy is to Celtic’s youth on the bench when you’re abroad, you can be on the field or in the gallery. And since there were more than thirteen different nationalities, it was a real battle in training.
It has the image of British footballers who arrive two hours before the game and go to drink beer after the game …
This is not a cliché (smile). I remember an award ceremony at the end of the season. That was two days before a match and there were several liquor bottles on our table. As we had not started, our coach came to us and say do not be afraid to lead. He was surprised. There, you are asked just to be good during the match and the rest is irrelevant. On the rare set to green, it was free to do what we wanted and even eat anything and everything because there were buffets filled cakes, for example. Some took the opportunity to make very hearty meal a few hours before a game without it bothering the coach.
It is a mode that suited you?
I find that although each is allowed to prepare his way. In the locker room, there was always loud music before games and almost no one saw the coach. He came just to make the team.
The Scottish league forced you to beef up your game?
Yes, because duels are always quarreling to 200%. Even when you play against a guy a little frail, he’ll make you feel its strength from the first contact. I needed time to adjust because I was always a little surprised to see a player you fit in when he has no chance to take the ball. And there, the referee does not leave him a carton, but screams “game on” or “play on”. For them, the contact part of the game is very different from the Ligue 1 where you take a card when you tackling. Even when you touch the ball, they blame you too much aggression!
In terms of results, this has not been a great season for Celtic …
In fact, we finished second in the league and being busted out of the cup semi-final. This was particularly a bad season it’s the rival Rangers, who finished first. The Scottish league is not just provided in a duel between the two Glasgow clubs, because there are also serious competitors like Hearts or Dundee.
However, at the fans and atmosphere at the stadium, it had to be extraordinary?
I hope I can live something as strong, but it will be difficult. I know people who attended the derby between Boca and River of Argentina and told me that Glasgow was even hotter. I had chills every time I walked into our stadium. There were still 40 000 people who truly love football, support and encourage their team. They all appreciate the gestures, not just the goal or assist. This warms the heart. It’s also why games are also alive.
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