Can you look back on your arrival to OL this past summer?

Very few supporters knew who I was. And maybe even some coaches didn't know what type of player to expect when they saw me arrive. But I had confidence in myself and I wanted to see what I was worth in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.

During your first weeks in Lyon, you rubbed shoulders with Laurent Blanc, who was a great central defender...

Since the start of my career, I have been trained by many good coaches. With Laurent, we had some discussions about the position. He gave me feedback on what he saw, what I could improve, what I was doing well... It was interesting for me to learn from him.

“The Irish are famous for their state of mind”

It was Fabio Grosso who started you for the first time, at Reims in the beginning of October…

Even though we unfortunately lost (2-0), I think I played my match. We played with three at the back, it’s a system that I know. Even if it ended in defeat, it will stay as my first experience of French football. There is a lot of intensity here. It’s one of the five best leagues in the world and there are great players. If you lose focus for a moment, you pay for it!

How would you describe your style?

The Irish are famous for their state of mind and their fighting spirit. This is what I want to show on the pitch and I am sure that the supporters will like it. But I also don’t want people to think that I’m only here to punch or yell. I like the beautiful game. I consider myself a central defender capable of bringing out the ball well. I am lucky to have played in several countries (Ireland, England and Belgium before France), which allowed me to learn different styles.

“I want to stay at OL”

How do you see your future?

I want to stay at OL, be part of this club for a long time. I want to create great memories and get this club back to where it belongs. But now, we need to move the club up the table because our current position is not worthy of a club like OL. We must be at the top of the table. We have great players and it’s only a matter of time.

Finally, before choosing football, you notably practiced boxing and hurling...

Yes, and I try to use these experiences in my football career. Hurling is a very physical sport but also the fastest sport in the world. Boxing allows you to be in top physical condition, to work on your balance... And of course, there is also the mental aspect. You really have to be very strong mentally to do boxing because it's you against your opponent and if you make a mistake, it's on you, you can't rely on anyone.