Meet the French Reds

As Liverpool prepare to take on Lyon at the Stade de Gerland tonight, we caught up with Luc Bertrand, secretary of the official Liverpool supporters’ club French branch, to find out more about their group.

What makes the French supporters' club different to others?
 
We're no different to other supporters' clubs because we are just supporting the team in the best possible way we can, with our passion for its values and style. The only difference between us and Liverpool-based supporters is that most of us don't understand Carra...just joking!
 
How did you begin as a supporters' club?
 
George Quintard, a British citizen and a Red since his childhood, has lived near Paris for many years now. He used to watch Liverpool games in pubs in Paris, trying to find other Reds fans. He eventually decided to form a supporters' club and we've been an official club since 2002. George was our first chairman and now he's still a member of the branch and honorary chairman.
 
How often does your club meet as a group?
 
We meet for each Liverpool game. Well, not all of us as we have a lot of members living near Paris and also a lot in other parts of the country, but each game is an opportunity to support the Reds together and have a good time.
 
Why do you support Liverpool? What drew you to the club?
 
The Liverpool Way, the values that the club and the fans defend - in particular solidarity, courage, humility and pride. I became a Red in 1977, when the club played against St Etienne. I was almost 11 and stood astonished in front of my TV when I saw and heard Anfield.
 
How often do you get to see the Reds in action?
 
Not as often as we would like to. As a travelling group from all over France we stay in Liverpool to visit the city and see the Reds at Anfield at least five times a season and we follow the Reds around Europe at every opportunity. Especially in France.
 
When are you next at Anfield?
 
We're back for the Gunners just before Christmas - it should be a nice present for all the members going for the first time. With Arsenal's French connections, it's a massive game for us in France.
 
What does it mean to you to have Liverpool play in your home country?
 
It means a lot. It's a pleasure to meet fellow Reds fans from all over Europe in our country and to receive them as well as we can. It's an opportunity to show to the media here in France that the Premier League is not only Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal. We want to show them Liverpool is still the greatest club in the UK and, in fact, one of the greatest in the world. And, of course, an opportunity to show we have the best fans.
 
What have you made of our start to the season?
 
Mixed, but not too bad. Okay, we lost four games in a row and obviously that's not the best way to fight for the title and progress in the Champions League. But we're not too far from Chelsea in the Premier League table and if we win in Lyon, we'll have a very good chance of qualifying from our group. When you consider the injuries we've had, I think you can feel quite optimistic because Gerrard, Torres, Aquilani, Agger, Skrtel and Aurelio won't be out for the whole season and with all these lads fit, we'll see a different Liverpool - the one we saw against Manchester United.
 
Who has been our star performer this season?
 
It's hard to choose one player. Glen Johnson has done very well so far and Fernando Torres has already scored a lot of goals, but it's hard to give only one name.
 
Will you be attending the game?
 
Yes, there'll be about 60 of us in Lyon supporting the Reds. We were in Florence and will be in Hungary too - we go everywhere the Reds play in Europe.
 
What can you tell us about Lyon?
 
About the team or the city ? About the team, I'd say they seem to be more focused on the Champions League than the French League this season. They've had some problems in the domestic competitions and I think they have performed better in Europe. They'll be a tough rival. As for the place, it is a very nice city with beautiful architecture and a place where you can eat the best cooking in France.
 
What was the reaction to their win at Anfield?
 
To win at Anfield is always a massive achievement for a French side - and for any team in the world for that matter. So, when you read the papers here in France and watched the TV after the game, you almost felt as though Lyon had suddenly became the best team in Europe or had already won the Champions League, such was the massive reaction to their victory. But I'm sure their fans and the club, even if they were very proud and happy after the game, know that nothing's done yet.
 
Who is your favourite Liverpool player?
 
In the present squad, Dirk Kuyt. In the past, Ian Rush.
 
What is the best Liverpool game you've ever attended?
 
To be honest, I haven't had the opportunity to attend a lot of Liverpool games. So, at the moment, it's the last home game of the 2005-06 season against Aston Villa. But some of our members were at the European Cup final in Paris against Real in 1981, in Istanbul in 2005, while some were over last week for United. I guess they'd choose one of these games.
 
What do you make of Champions League Group E? Will we qualify?
 
It's a tough group. As I said before, Lyon seem to be more focused than ever on the Champions League and they have a good side. I also thought Fiorentina looked strong against us. They played a solid game and have quality players, such as Jovetic. But I think we'll qualify. If we win in Lyon - and I think we will - we'll be in the last 16.
 
Finally, what is your prediction for the game?
 
Lyon 1-2 Reds.