Billetterie
Boutique
Foreign correspondent
Mounier: ‘Once things got tough here…’
His family is still in France, but he has been via Italy and now, where he is currently in lockdown, at his current home in Greece where the sun is his constant companion. A key member of Les Aiglons between 2009 and 2012 (107 matches, 17 goals and 20 assists), Anthony Mounier joined us to discuss this unprecedented situation. Just as quick as he was on the pitch, the Panetolikos attacking midfielder picked up his phone to tell us how he has been getting on.
GREECE & ITALY
"In Greece, the measures were taken before they were in France. From 10 March, schools and universities were closed. At midnight on the night of the 13th, all businesses that are not "vital" for the functioning of the country, were shut. Now, only supermarkets and pharmacies remain open. This is the Mediterranean, people are not used to staying at home. At first, like in France, they thought it was a holiday... I saw people who had never jogged before trying to become 100-metre champions. The "at-risk" populations were walking by the seaside as if it was nothing. I even saw a lady drinking her coffee with her cigarette, mask and gloves on. Can you imagine it? Everything is shut and she settles down in her usual café for a coffee and ciggie. In Greece now, you get a €150 fine if you go out without reason. They said on the news that the state had collected €2 million in no time... Since the fines started, people are starting to respect the rules - no surprise there. It's not easy for everyone, especially if you live in an apartment with the children. But it’s an emergency and everyone needs to be aware of that.
“Before Greece, I played in Bologna and... in Bergamo, which is the most affected city in the world. For weeks and weeks, people have been locked up in their homes. I talk to my former teammates, and they are even getting the groceries delivered. The city is not doing well, it's terrible.”
FRANCE
"When you have all your family in France, when you watch it from afar, and you follow the news a lot, you do get worried. It's hard for everyone, especially for the sick and the people who are on the front line, like doctors or those who work in hospitals. Even at this time, I have the impression that there's still room for possibly tougher measures... I really hope that everyone will realise this and that the French will stay at home so that this bad period can end as quickly as possible.”
AND THE FOOTBALL ?
"Our last game was on 1 or 2 March. The regular season's over, we were supposed to start the play-offs on the 15th. Here, the top 6 play off for the championship and 7 to 14 to avoid the drop. At the end of a mini-league of 7 games, the last one goes down and the second-last plays a play-off against the 2nd in D2. So we have 7 games left and the championship is due to resume in mid-May, which would mean finishing in mid-June. As Easter is coming up and it's a very important holiday in Greece, I think the confinement will stretch a bit. In the meantime, I'm training at home and I'm following the programme that the club has sent us. I had invested some time ago in sports equipment, so I'm able to work in good conditions.
“Panetolikos, which I joined in January, is in Agrinion, 3 hours from Athens. It was an important choice for my career. My wife and children stayed in Athens and I came back to be with them. I appreciate the moment even more. In this complicated situation, you have to be positive, you have to be with your family, you have to focus on the simple things.
“My adventure at Panathinaikos didn't end well. The first season was good, but then I got injured, there was a misdiagnosis and it took me a long time to come back. In January 2019 I was back in great shape but the club made it clear that I had to leave. I waited to see if the situation would improve, but it didn't. I like life in Greece but I wanted to play, so I had to make a decision in December: I terminated my contract and signed for six months in a small club that is very family oriented and very good. We'll see this summer, when I'm a free agent again. I hope to play as long as possible. Physically, I feel better at 32 than when I was 28... When you're in your thirties, the hardest thing is to stop, that's why I don't do it and keep working. I can play another 4 or 5 years at a high level. I'll make the right decisions when the time comes, thinking about my family as well… especially about my family.”
NICE
“I still have my house in Nice. I was there in December, but unfortunately it poured with rain. Boul’ (Philippe Boulon, club physio) gave me a visit of the new training centre. When you have changing rooms and facilities like that, it’s mad good, just brilliant! In those conditions, I’d play ‘til I was 50. It’s changed from my time at the Charles-Ehrmann training centre. But honestly, I only have great memories of my time in Nice, of training, of Georges who was always my idol, of the Stade du Ray… It’s always great to visit Nice!”