Exclusive | From ‘chill’ Olivier Giroud to ‘under-rated’ Benjamin André, Noah Edjouma lauds Lille’s veterans | OneFootball

Lille OSC will return to the UEFA Champions League next season. Whilst the likes of Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson have starred in LOSC’s success this season, Noah Edjouma paid tribute to some of the more experienced players in the squad in an exclusive interview with Get French Football News. 

“It helps to have experienced players like Thomas Meunier and Olivier Giroud, who speak to you often, both on and off the pitch,” says Edjouma, who joined Lille in January, signing from formative club Toulouse FC. “They give you little bits of advice on how to adapt, on training, on the environment or even during the match. I have really seen mental progress. I came here to progress and show my worth. It really helps to have players like them in the team.”

Giroud open to extending Lille stay

On Giroud, Edjouma added, “I think, contrary to what people might think, he is quite chill. He’s pretty cool. He isn’t there to police us, but he knows how to help us by giving us advice, especially the young players, by getting us to respect the instructions and the rules as much as possible. He is a good advisor who helps us progress.” Giroud’s contract with LOSC is up this summer, but France’s record goalscorer has opened the door to an extension.

On club captain André, Edjouma added, “He is someone who has had a great longevity. I think that we can say that [he is one of the most underrated players in Ligue 1] because every season he has always been one of the best players in the league. For that to be the case across so many years is remarkable.”

>> READ: Our exclusive interview with Edjouma can be read here

GFFN | Luke Entwistle