Midfielder Abdou Traore insists the spirit in the Bordeaux camp is excellent despite the disappointment of last season and the upheaval of the summer.

Bordeaux blew a big lead in Ligue 1 last term, missing out on the chance to retain their title and tailing off so badly that they even failed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

Coach Laurent Blanc then confirmed he would be leaving his post to become coach of the French national team, with former Bordeaux hero Jean Tigana brought in to replace him.

Traore has already formed a good impression of new boss Tigana - who also hails from the Malian capital of Bamako - and insists everyone at the club is feeling positive about the new season.

"We have been back in training for a little over a month and we feel good," the 22-year-old told the club's official website.

"Everything went well, everything is going well. The group lives and laughs together. The ambience is excellent, there's never tension. It's a healthy group. Hopefully we'll have a good season."

Everything went well, everything is going well. The group lives and laughs together.
Abdou Traore, Bordeaux midfielder

Bordeaux's 2010-11 campaign starts away at last year's surprise package Montpellier, who finished fifth in their first year back in the top flight.

Asked for his thoughts on working with Tigana, Traore added: "This is a good coach. He is demanding, he enjoys working. He's a nice guy who speaks to everyone. We are both from Mali. He often went to Mali for humanitarian missions, he has lots of projects there. He knows a lot of Malians and even the President!"

Opponents Montpellier could go into the match feeling physically and mentally drained, having lost on penalties to Hungarian side Gyor in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday.

The club have terminated the contract of midfielder Nicolas Sahnoun, who spent last season on loan in Spain.