Djibril Cisse talks

Djibril Cisse

Updated: 11/11/2024

Djibril Cisse talks shock Masked Singer appearance, memories of 2011/12 final day at the Etihad & gives top four prediction

“I've heard some people in the past say that we gave the game away, but I found that crazy. We were there to upset the party.”

Djibril Cisse exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone'

“When the opportunity came up for me to appear on Mask Singer in France, I really liked the concept, I thought the costume looked pretty nice, and the programme it really cool, so I just thought ‘yeah, we're doing it!'”

“I got to choose my songs, from a list they gave us. That Wham! song is a great one though, I loved it because it was up tempo and it suited me.”

“I think Liverpool will sneak into the top four this season. They're going to have to stop dropping points, and quick, but the Champions League spots are very much a possibility for them, still – and I'd pick them to do it over Newcastle and Tottenham. As for the rest of the spots, I think it's pretty clear at this moment that it'll be Man City, United and Arsenal in there with them.”

[QPR stint] “My first game was in February, and by mid-April I'd missed seven games through suspension, so I knew I had to make it up to the supporters, and the owner. Luckily enough, Tony Fernandes was a very understanding guy. I sat down with him and he just told me, firmly, that he'd brought me into the club for a reason, that there was still time, and he just had four words for me. ”

Don't f*** this up!””

“I've heard some people in the past say that we gave the game away, but I found that crazy. We were there to upset the party. I'm not a City fan, I'm not an ex-player, I want to beat you… if you don't beat us, then that's just a shame; you should have done better!”

“When I think of Crouchy, I just think about how he'd make fun of me and my fashion sense! In general, he was a great guy, a great guy to be around – always. I'm a big fan of his podcast, too; it's unsurprising for me to see him doing so well with that, because of his personality. If he wanted me on, I'd be there straight away, of course, 100%.”

How I came to sing Wham! on the French version of The Masked Singer

To be honest, I'd already done Dancing With the Stars and wasn't very good at it, so when the opportunity came up for me to appear on Mask Singer in France, I really liked the concept, I thought the costume looked pretty nice, and the programme it really cool, so I just thought ‘yeah, we're doing it!'

I think I did four performances, and I thought I was OK actually! I was really happy to take part in the show, it's something different, and I was really disappointed when I lost! It was good fun. I did Macklemore, a French song, Sweet Dreams and Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

I got to choose my songs, from a list they gave us. That Wham! song is a great one though, I loved it because it was up tempo and it suited me. It wasn't like it would have been my first choice to perform, but from the list they gave me, it was the best one for me, for sure. I loved doing Sweet Dreams, too!

Top four prediction… Klopp's more than capable of finding the right words to put this side on track again

It's been an unusual season for Liverpool so far; we're used to seeing them dominating the table in recent years, alongside Manchester City, winning games easily. This season it hasn't been the case. They played very well against Newcastle last time out in the Premier League, having just beaten Everton too, without conceding in either game, which is an area they've struggled in so far this season.

The manager is more than capable of finding the right words to put this side on track again, though.

I think Liverpool will sneak into the top four this season. They're going to have to stop dropping points, and quick, but the Champions League spots are very much a possibility for them, still – and I'd pick them to do it over Newcastle and Tottenham. As for the rest of the spots, I think it's pretty clear at this moment that it'll be Man City, United and Arsenal in there with them.

Memories of Man City 3-2 QPR… I wanted to spoil their party that day

Of course, as a Liverpool player, I had a history with Man United, and I was completely aware of how big a rivalry that was. But, to be honest, on that day, playing for Queens Park Rangers against Man City at the Etihad, I wasn't really thinking about any of that. My only aim was to help my team avoid relegation. I didn't care about United, City or Liverpool; I was a QPR player, so I was 100% focused on saving the club.

I had a tricky season there; I signed for one reason, and that was to keep the club in the Premier League. They spent a lot of money on me so a lot of expectation came with that. I scored one goal, then another, then got a red card. Then I came back into the squad, scored in two games, and then got sent off again. I couldn't believe it. My first game was in February, and by mid-April I'd missed seven games through suspension, so I knew I had to make it up to the supporters, and the owner.

Luckily enough, Tony Fernandes was a very understanding guy. I sat down with him and he just told me, firmly, that he'd brought me into the club for a reason, that there was still time, and he just had four words for me. “Don't f*** this up!”

I then scored a vital goal for the team against Stoke, in the last minute, before equalising in that famous game at the Etihad. It was between us and Bolton to be relegated, and Bolton ended up losing. So before the end of our game, we already knew our fate, we knew we were safe. I've heard some people in the past say that we gave the game away, but I found that crazy. We were there to upset the party. I'm not a City fan, I'm not an ex-player, I want to beat you… if you don't beat us, then that's just a shame; you should have done better!

Even though my brother, Samir [Nasri] was in that City team, I didn't care; it's a game. If I have to take the title off you, sorry, my friend, I'm doing it. But luckily for me and for him, things went the way they did, and we were both celebrating at full-time. We played some good football before Joey Barton's red card made things more difficult for us. He was mad during that game; I think he went for about five Man City players. But he's a cool guy; he's not as crazy as people want to make out… he's a good guy.

Sergio Aguero scores his goal, and I can just remember the stadium shaking. It was a nice moment to be a part of, to experience, even though it wasn't my team winning the title… it was just nice to see. I've never seen anything like it before, where two teams are celebrating at full-time on the same pitch, at the end of the season, for two completely different reasons. It was a strange feeling, but – like I said – I was so happy for Samir, and that's why I celebrated with him. I was happy for him, and I was happy for me, because QPR were safe. It was a pure moment of joy. It wasn't me as a QPR player and him as a Man City player; it was two brothers who were happy for each other.

Peter Crouch… I love the guy; if he wanted me on his podcast I'd be there straight away

Me and Crouchy get on really well – he's such a fun, crazy guy, and I like him a lot. When we're talking about mentally strong players, he's right up there for me. This guy went 19 games without scoring a goal for Liverpool – I know a lot of old teammates who'd have given up, who'd have let their heads drop, but not Crouchy. He kept going, and I take my hat off to him for that.

When I think of Crouchy, I just think about how he'd make fun of me and my fashion sense! In general, he was a great guy, a great guy to be around – always. I'm a big fan of his podcast, too; it's unsurprising for me to see him doing so well with that, because of his personality. If he wanted me on, I'd be there straight away, of course, 100%.

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