As Arsenal gear up to take on Montpellier Herault in the French champions’ first Champions League game, the Moroccan playmaker has given a warning to former teammate Olivier Giroud who now plays for the Gunners
At the age of 22 and after playing three professional seasons at Montpellier Herault, Moroccan international, Younes Belhanda is set to compete in the Champions League for the first time in his young yet promising career.
There was a time when the Moroccan must have dreamt about playing in the competition. However, with Montpellier qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious club competition following their domestic Championelle triumph last season, Belhanda will be part of 32 elite European clubs vying for the long-eared trophy.
And perhaps, the best way to start the campaign in Europe would be to play against an English club where the flavour is predominantly French. Although the Gunners give a scarecrow outlook in Montpellier’s group, Belhanda does not lack in ambition and wants to see his team well in Europe.
While talking to the media, the playmaker said that Montpellier were the best team in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 last season and no one can take that away from them. He added that he would have wanted to see his team in the 'Group of Death' which featured the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Ajax Amserdam and Real Madrid.
“We were the best in France once, no one can take that away. Here, the whole world is watching. This is another planet. I wanted the Group of Death.”
Apart from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, the group contains the likes of German Bundesliga giants Schalke and Olympiacos. And, Belhanda feels that the team can do well against the Germans and added that the team shouldn’t finish last.
Playing against Arsenal offers Belhanda and his teammates to link up with former striker Olivier Giroud. The France international along with Belhanda, was one of the reasons why La Paillade went on to lift their first ever Ligue 1 Championelle.
Despite playing together for two years, Belhanda has warned the striker that he will find it difficult to score against his old teammates because Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will not let him.
“I know Mapou is going to break him. There will be no friends on the field. I saw what he did with Montano.”
So far, Giroud is yet to score for his new side. But Belhanda is not worried about it because he has every confidence in his former teammate.
“I am confident. We must let people know how he plays. He must be given the ball. When he gives you a pass, he is clean, and in front of goal, he is a killer. They (Arsenal) must find an affinity with him.”
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