Bring on Liverpool, says Gignac

Striker André-Pierre Gignac insists Toulouse FC have "nothing to lose" as they prepare to face Liverpool FC in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Dream
Toulouse are bidding to reach the competition proper for the first time and Gignac believes his side "could hardly have got a more difficult draw". But with the town buzzing ahead of the visit of last season's beaten finalists, the 21-year-old is looking forward to the challenge. "It's a dream, we can't wait," Gignac told uefa.com. "We have nothing to lose. No one scares me in the Liverpool defence. Of course I don't know Anfield but we will go there for the return looking to make our mark. Experiencing that mythical stadium will be amazing. We're going to prepare ourselves to do something special."

Rapid rise
Two years ago Gignac could not have imagined facing the five-times European Champion Clubs' Cup winners with a place in the UEFA Champions League at stake. On loan at third division FC Pau from FC Lorient, Europe's premier club competition seemed a million miles away. But after scoring nine Ligue 1 goals back at Lorient last season, including a first-half hat-trick against FC Nantes Atlantique, Gignac earned his shot at the big time.

Baup persuasion
Gignac signed a pre-contract agreement with LOSC Lille Métropole and was expected to join the northern side over the summer, but the lure of Toulouse proved too strong. "I could have become Lillois but TFC came forward and I made what I thought was a better choice. Toulouse are an ambitious club which is growing quickly. The fact [coach] Elie Baup was involved in person in the negotiations convinced me to join."

Difficult period
The protracted transfer monopolised the sports pages for a fortnight and damaged the youngster's reputation. With the season under way he now hopes to put a difficult period behind him by doing what he does best. "I want to score goals and create them. That's what I go on the pitch to do. I'm a striker – so if I don't score I’m not doing my job." Gignac's nine goals for Lorient caught the eye of France coach Raymond Domenech and established the youngster as one of the revelations of the Ligue 1 season. The plan now is to build on that return. "I want my statistics from last season with Lorient to be the minimum," said Gignac who at 1.86m is a towering presence in the Toulouse front line. "I want to do everything I can to improve on that and I think I'm well placed to do so here. At least ten goals, that's my first objective." Starting against Liverpool this afternoon.