“How did you digest the defeat against Germany (0-2)? Is there a little doubt?
No, no doubt. Of course we played badly. I had the chance to play several competitions, and we happened to take a beating just before, and succeed, or to win all the friendly matches and go home. The proof is that I played Germany twice in a friendly match, and we lost, and I played them three times in an official match, and I never lost.
Are executives responsible for the lack of reaction, or is this a somewhat harsh analysis?
We are never harsh with high-level players. It’s our life to be criticized, even more so from executives, and I prefer it to be me. Now the match is over, we will have to show a reaction against Chile (Tuesday at 9 p.m.). We must look ahead, and realize that what we have done is not enough.
Did you do your part on Saturday?
No, that wasn’t enough. But it was more than leadership. It failed, but we were completely overwhelmed in several aspects. It remains a friendly match, but there were a lot of warnings, there were too many things that went wrong to beat a team like Germany. If we play like that in the deadlines that await us, we would face big disappointments, and we don’t want that to happen.
Is it a way of coping with things, coming to a press conference twice in a row?
It’s still my responsibility, even more so after a defeat. If we had won, I would not have come, I would have given way to other leaders, but there, we had to take responsibility, and that’s why I’m here too.
“If we had won 5-0, I would not have said to myself that we were going to win the Euro with our fingers in our noses”
Is the French team less favorite at the Euro?
The important thing is nuance. If we had won 5-0, I would not have said to myself that we were going to win the Euro with our fingers in our noses. There, I’m not saying to myself that we’re going to be overwhelmed either. It’s a warning, but we’re not going to throw everything in the trash for a friendly match, even if there were a lot of lessons for the future.
Given your situation in Paris, is it important to continue?
This has nothing to do with my personal situation. It’s an unspeakable pride to play for the France team and as long as I’m fit, I always want to play, even at a club I always want to play. It’s by playing all the time that we can show that we are the best.
Aurélien Tchouaméni said the Spaniards were going to realize what a player you are…
I played for Real Sociedad, soon Barcelona, and after maybe Atlético de Madrid. So they’re going to see me a lot, that’s what he meant…
Are you entering the most exciting period of the season?
Yes, these are matches that everyone dreams of, that we have dreamed of since we were kids. The little child inside me is super excited to be in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, well on the way to being champion of France, and is going to prepare for the Euro.
“If I don’t get whistled, it will be a nice surprise”
It’s been seven years, to the day, since you started with the French team. Does it seem like yesterday, or a long time ago?
It went by quickly, but I experienced a lot. It’s always a huge source of pride. It hasn’t changed, I have the same desire as the first day. As soon as I set foot at the Château de Clairefontaine, I wanted to write the history of the French team, to break numerous records. There are big deadlines ahead of us, and I hope to play for a long time.
How do you feel at the Vélodrome stadium?
Most of the time I came as a rival, so I didn’t have the opportunity to admire the stadium properly. But it’s cool to play here, in one of the three stadiums in France, without doubt, where there is the most atmosphere. Even as Parisians, it always makes us want to have a good match.
Do you think that the Marseille public will make up their minds a few days before the Classic?
I wouldn’t presume to ask that. Regardless of the reception I receive, I will give the best of myself. I will understand, if I am whistled, there is the Classico on Sunday and I am a PSG player, that’s life. But if I don’t get whistled, it will be a nice surprise. »
