First team

GONALONS: 'I'M VERY HAPPY HERE AND I HOPE IT STAYS THIS WAY'

02/04/2019

'I feel good physically and mentally but I'm only at 60-80% of the level I can give,' Gonalons admitted

Maxime Gonalons, Sevilla FC's midfielder, was the guest on 'A Balón Parado' last night. The French midfielder, even though he was accompanied by his interpreter and teacher, expressed himself well in Spanish, all down to the effort he has put in with the club's master class.

Gonalons first spoke about the injuries which have kept him from the pitch for most of the season, saying that he now was in good shape and excited to be on the pitch: 'I feel very good physically and mentally because I worked hard for six months so that I would be ready to play again and help my teammates to win.'

'I'm very happy here. First I want to play and then we'll talk about me staying'

'I'm at 60-80% of the level I can give. I need to play a lot to get into a rhythm and to get involved in every game,' explained the French midfielder, adding that his teammates supported him a lot throughout the bad times: 'It's difficult mentally. We all need our family and friends to help us through tough times and especially in football. My son, wife, parents and friends all helped me a lot.'

Gonalons, who has just turned thirty, says he is happy at Nervión: 'I'm very happy here and I hope it stays this way. I need to play first and then we'll speak with the club, my agents and Monchi about me staying.'

'You get goosebumps when you hear the anthem out on the pitch. It's great to share it with the fans'

The midfielder stated he knew Monchi wanted to sign him while he played for Lyon: 'I got the call from Roma's director and Monchi. After a week of thinking about it, I decided for Roma. At the end of that season in Lyon, I had some problems with the president but everything is good with him now.'

Regarding his arrival in Sevilla this summer, the French midfielder said 'it all happened quickly when Sevilla called me. Roma signed Nzonzi and they told me I wouldn't play much. They said I could go to Sevilla.'

Finally, Gonalons admitted that he felt 'goosebumps hearing the anthem out on the pitch. It's great to share it with the fans.'