Asked by French newspaper L’Equipe whether he’d be interested in signing out of favour Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (Benzema was a teeenager trying to break into the first team at Lyon when Houllier was the manager) Houllier responded playfully; “If Karim wants to come and play at Aston Villa, we would sign him tomorrow.”

As he would with any player of that calibre, but it’s not going to happen.

You think that’s impressive, just wait until the British media get a look at his answer to the follow up question:-

L’Equipe: Are there any players you wish you could have coached? For instance, would you have liked to coach Pelé as a youngster?

Gérard Houllier: Of course! I’d love to have a time machine… I would go back in time, before the ’58 World Cup, and I’d sign the 17 year old Pelé and bring him to Villa Park. You know, if he wanted to… and time travel was actually possible. *winks*

Oh dear…

Psst, any room in the DeLorean for the boys Maradona, Di Stéfano, Zico, Puskás and maybe a young Heskey, Gérard? Thanks!