Speaker A
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a new episode of The Bridge. I guess there's no need to introduce the program.
French footballers Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé join comedian Thomas Ngijol on The Bridge to discuss football, fashion, and personal stories.
Key Takeaways
- Ousmane Dembélé is the interim captain of the French national team and embraces his leadership role.
- Thomas Ngijol remains passionate about soccer and is recovering from a knee ligament injury.
- Jules Koundé is recognized not only for his football skills but also as a fashion icon within the sport.
- Soccer is portrayed as a multifaceted passion that unites different generations and cultures.
- The episode balances sports discussion with personal stories and humor, making it engaging and relatable.
Summary
- The episode features French international footballers Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé alongside comedian Thomas Ngijol.
- Discussion centers around football careers, including Dembélé's role as interim captain of the French national team.
- Thomas Ngijol shares his passion for soccer despite not being a professional player and talks about his knee injury.
- The guests talk about the camaraderie and banter within the French national team.
- Jules Koundé is highlighted as a fashion trendsetter in the football world, known for his unique and eccentric style.
- The conversation touches on the respect and love for soccer across different generations.
- They discuss the perception of soccer losing its romanticism and defend the sport's cultural significance.
- Koundé’s influence on team dynamics and his popularity among fans and teammates are emphasized.
- The guests share anecdotes about shopping trips and personal style preferences.
- The tone is casual and humorous, blending sports insights with lifestyle and personality.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Today, we're delighted to welcome to the studio French international player at Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembélé, comedian Thomas Ngijol and, it has to be said, one of the most stylish sportsmen in the world, Jules Koundé.
Speaker A
I don't know about you, but I already know we're in for a treat. The Bridge is on.
Speaker A
Here we are in a new episode of The Bridge, but first of all, gentlemen, welcome.
Speaker A
Welcome to you all! Thanks. But I'd just like to say that with us today is the new captain, albeit interim, of the French national team.
Speaker A
We need to call him sir. Well, yeah. Sir. Seriously, well done. Seriously. Are you OK?
Speaker A
Yeah, no, I'm OK, I'm OK. Hey, this isn't a press conference. Yeah, go on, don't hold back, bro.
Speaker A
Be yourself, huh? Because we've seen him. He does press conferences now. Have you guys seen?
Speaker A
No, no, leave it out. He's not keen on those, but hey. No, it was cool.
Speaker A
Seriously, it was a great moment. As I said at the conference. Oh, here he goes again.
Speaker A
And I'll say it here exclusively for The Bridge. No, I've already been captain in the youth selections when I was younger, too, at Bordeaux and everything.
Speaker A
Ah, was he your captain, Jules? No, I was his. I'm the eldest. He is older.
Speaker A
But this time, he was yours. That's right. And yours, too. Who? What do you call him?
Speaker A
He calls me... Aurélien. Aurel and “come here, you”. Aurel. No, it's the group, it's the France group, you know.
Speaker A
As I've said already, we've all known each other for quite some time now. We're pretty much the same generation.
Speaker A
There isn't much of an age gap between us. So let's just say there's a lot of banter.
Speaker A
That's cool. Today, it's a special program with soccer players, Thomas. You could say that, absolutely.
Speaker A
You had an early career, huh? Yeah, but it isn't over. It isn't over. It isn't over. I love soccer.
Speaker A
I'm not a soccer player, but I love it. It's since you stopped your career that you say that.
Speaker A
No, but getting into it. I love soccer, Sebastien. So in fact, it's not about being a pro or anything. I get excited when I watch amateur matches.
Speaker A
Even now? Always. I go and watch. I've been to watch my guys in the CDM on Sunday mornings.
Speaker A
The old guys. It's all in slow motion, it's awful. CDM, what's CDM? CDM, the old guys. World Cup.
Speaker A
For you, it's the World Cup. For us, it's the tired seniors. Yeah. They jump, it's slow. Old guys with beards.
Speaker A
It's in slow motion all the time, they fall over, it lasts fifteen minutes, they scream, it's awful.
Speaker A
But it's real soccer. Yes, that's right. I've only experienced amateur soccer, but I enjoy watching them play just as much as I enjoy watching amateur soccer.
Speaker A
I love soccer. You don't play anymore? I'm trying to get back, I am. I really am. I was injured.
Speaker A
It sounds weird saying it. I've got an injury. Where? My knee. Ligaments? Ligaments. A strained ligament.
Speaker A
OK. It wasn't... I carried on, seriously, I played two crazy matches. Did it swell up?
Speaker A
No, as I was off balance, my tendon got it so I've gone back and I'm resting.
Speaker A
The physio told me to rest. The usual. But I want to play again. Are you crazy, I'm a defensive midfielder now. I don't move forward anymore, but I look at the pitch, bro.
Speaker A
Ah, you're number six now? As a defensive midfielder, I watch, you give it to me, I pass it away.
Speaker A
Right. Left. With gestures. With gestures. I shout, “Eight!”. “Clear!”. “In the middle!”, “Never in the middle”.
Speaker A
It's wonderful. I love it! I love soccer. You know, here's the thing, soccer should be prized. Soccer is a passion, an art, a way of life, it's lots of things all at the same time.
Speaker A
And at the age I am, I've realized that I care deeply about soccer and I've got a lot of respect for soccer fans.
Speaker A
That's why I'm here. I've got a great question because we've got several generations here, a younger generation in soccer.
Speaker A
You and I have experienced a different kind of soccer, shall we say, without sounding old.
Speaker A
People often say that soccer has lost its romanticism. Those people are out of touch.
Speaker A
D'you think they're not into the romance? Look at him, he's wearing a Sochaux, Stephane Paille. He's got some sick 'has been' tee shirts!
Speaker A
Crop tops. The tee shirt's not 'has been' at all. No, I approve. It's fantastic, it's fantastic.
Speaker A
Old-school Peugeot logo, the lion. It's culture. Of course. We all approve because it's Jules.
Speaker A
But Ous, what do you think, really?... Wait, they're going to finish. How do you rate his outfit?
Speaker A
No... Careful, this is The Bridge. No bullshit which means, say what you really think.
Speaker A
I see big pairs. Big pairs? Ousmane, do you want us to start? No, don't take it like that because it's Jules, that's why.
Speaker A
Ah, when it's Jules, it's OK. When it's Jules, it's OK. When it's Jules, it's OK.
Speaker A
It's true, you're untouchable. No, I'm not. Yes, you are. You're untouchable. They went... Have you seen the eruptions when you arrive at Clairefontaine in France?
Speaker A
You're the man of the moment. You're trending in France. Each time the France team gets together, you see Koundé and you think, "What's going on?" Because people want to be controversial. They like talking about it.
Speaker A
No, it's not necessarily controversial. There are two or three haters who say it's disgraceful. We don't give a shit about them.
Speaker A
But people say, “Koundé's arriving, let's see what he's done for us”. I don't agree when you say he's untouchable because it's Jules, you too.
Speaker A
Because before, he actually wasn't. He came and brought his own personal style. Yes, but he could have been on the sidelines.
Speaker A
Yes, there are guys who've tried things. They were on the sidelines, we won't mention names...
Speaker A
The last time the team got together, then, is that what you're going to say?
Speaker A
No, before, now it's... Jules, that was... No, Jules has been in the vanguard. He's paved the way for everyone. He's been a trendsetter. Yes, that's right.
Speaker A
Because at the last selection, someone came in a mask. That was you. Don't get me involved.
Speaker A
But are you aware that you've become the guy of the moment in terms of fashion and...
Speaker A
Oh, my goodness! He knows. See? They know how to make me uncomfortable. We need to hear...
Speaker A
It's a form of recognition. No, I'm actually aware of it. I know that now, people can't wait to see what I'm going to turn up in.
Speaker A
Which style, if I'm gonna be eccentric or not. But actually, the way I dress is me, it's part of my personality.
Speaker A
But you like it, too, you like it. Yeah, I like it. Before, I didn't like it at all, honestly before I was...
Speaker A
Up to four or five years ago, I really didn't like having photos taken of me at all.
Speaker A
My mother can vouch for that. When she used to ask me for a photo, I always said no, I don't like that. Then gradually I guess I also loosened up a little, you get to know yourself better and you know what you like, and what you don't like.
Speaker A
You have no line as far as your style goes. No line. He's crossed the line.
Speaker A
It doesn't stop. He crossed it ages ago. See, I'm throwing him... The great thing about Jules, from what I see from the outside, is that it isn't forced.
Speaker A
I actually never see in him someone who is forcing it. Some do force it, some do force it.
Speaker A
Some do force it. Who are you thinking of? No, we won't give any names.
Speaker A
Check out Ous, he looked at you, go on, give us a name. Obviously, I've got to know him since. I've been shopping with him.
Speaker A
You went shopping? I didn't get anything. He got the lot. That's your problem, he's gonna start making things up.
Speaker A
So you were in the shops and you said, “But, Jules? Oh, OK, go on. It's not that bad.” I know what you mean.
Speaker A
It has to be said, shopping with Jules is a chore. I can imagine. Really, really, really difficult.
Speaker A
He takes you to these places. You've got no idea, places you'd never set foot in.
Speaker A
We went shopping with him in Paris and Tokyo. Tokyo? Oh right, my bad, I forgot.
Speaker A
I heard about that shopping spree in Tokyo! What happened? So I was with Franck Kessié.
Speaker A
- my friend, the elder. - The elder. The meme? - What meme? (in French meme also me)
Speaker A
Oh Noooo! You got to cut this out of the final edit! If you invited me for this, I’m going to bounce!
Speaker A
It’s my job, it’s serious... Sébastien, please... level up, we are at The Bridge! We saw amazing people! Like Ngannou, and othe incredible people...
Speaker A
We HAVE to level up! Truth is, I wanted to invite you for the soccer specific episode.
Speaker A
I have mad respect for this show, really top show... with Samuel... Jules, it looks like you are going to burst laughing.
Speaker A
No, it’s just I’m next to guys whose job is to entertain! - I can’t hide that! - His “joie de vivre” That’s what we are selling, but sorry, we digress, sorry I interrupted...
Speaker A
No... As we said you’re the guy right now ! There was a controversy last time during selection about us players in the France team starting to overdo it a bit with our outfits.
Speaker A
You're messing about basically is what they were saying. I'm not involved. No, you're always dressed simply.
Speaker A
For business. Exactly, like a window salesman! Last time he arrived in 91 he was mad, hands in pockets.
Speaker A
That's real class. You gave a salute, Hello! Careful with your salute. No, it's like that with the other, with your hand in the air, twisted.
Speaker A
There, you can do that one. The denim outfit? No, black. You arrived, you went, “Hi, I'm not modeling today”.
Speaker A
Yeah, yeah. You were chill. Always always. So it hasn't affected you? The people who've begun to talk, the journalists?
Speaker A
No, that doesn't affect us anymore. But there was someone who posted a little tweet There was someone who tweeted. Always him.
Speaker A
He has to tell us about it. He likes that. It's like you say, it doesn't affect us in the way that they think.
Speaker A
For me, it's simply a lack of open-mindedness. And once in a while, it's good to respond, to voice your point of view.
Speaker A
Afterwards, you agree or disagree. I believe there are ways of doing that and often, very often in the media, it's done disrespectfully and you see, it's just that that....
Speaker A
It's a bit 'corner bar'. And also, sometimes there are people who think it's OK to criticize style whereas they themselves, pretty messy...
Speaker A
There is that. There is that. It's not even... It's not even that, but I think...
Speaker A
Get me another drink. I think the thing is with the media today, social media and all that, I find that everything has got way out of hand.
Speaker A
Which means that talking about clothes, the way you dress to come for selection, that's something that's always happened.
Speaker A
In any case, for our generation. I think that since we've arrived for selection the day before, we always think, "Right.
Speaker A
What am I going to wear tomorrow?" And we like that. We like that, it's cool.
Speaker A
We meet up before signing the jerseys, we look at the style a bit, do some trash talking.
Speaker A
That's among ourselves, see. There's a kind of competition between you, who's going to be the best dressed.
Speaker A
A little bit. Are you in competition? No, I'm not in competition, but there are some, I feel, who are a bit in competition.
Speaker A
Ibou (Ibrahima Konaté). I feel that at the moment Ibou is... Yeah, Ibou is in competition.
Speaker A
But we all know that... The king is here. Well, yeah. We all know who's the duke.
Speaker A
When he turned up in a crop top and a skirt, he'd won. It was all over.
Speaker A
No, it's like I was saying, it's all part of our jam. We like it.
Speaker A
Our group likes trash talking, banter. So we are in competition. I guess everyone comes dressed how they feel like.
Speaker A
And then? Yes, admittedly, there are those who try out stuff who are more or less successful, like everyone.
Speaker A
I also think the thing is, you don't have to justify yourselves, most importantly. You're enjoying your lives and moving forward, that bothers some people...
Speaker A
But why? It's for 20 minutes, then we get changed. Exactly. And then, as Jules said, just because you come dressed in a jersey, shorts and socks, it doesn't mean you're going to be even more focused for the coming match.
Speaker A
But it's always been like that. That's how the world works, it will always be like that.
Speaker A
With all trends, even though we're not talking about a trend as such, because basically you're a soccer player, but older people, the past will always call into question the present, that's just how it is.
Speaker A
See what I mean, they're going to look at it through their own prism. And say no, we don't agree because in our day, that's how it was. For me, it still raises something.
Speaker A
It means there are still people commenting on soccer news. Who are going to have a rant because you're dressed in a certain way.
Speaker A
But also, sometimes, it's just for the buzz, to get people talking. That's what I think too, to be honest.
Speaker A
And at the end of the day, it gets people talking. Yes, at the end of the day, it gets people talking. That's what they want.
Speaker A
And then what they criticize you for is wanting to do it in order to create.
Speaker A
But actually, you're the ones creating it by talking about it, since you're creating an...
Speaker A
Echo chamber? Exactly. Actually, you know deep down, they can't stand you. Basically, if you say things, they can't stand you and they're waiting for the slightest mistake to cause you a bit of trouble.
Speaker A
I say mistake, it's not even a mistake. They're waiting for the slightest thing. Excuse, an excuse.
Speaker A
Yeah, an excuse, and when I say they can't stand you, it's really not that many people, but they resonate.
Speaker A
You know what i mean. And we think they represent people, but people don't give a damn.
Speaker A
They see you three walking down Rivoli Boulevard. People are all over you because they love you.
Speaker A
Not because of the NF. No, it's not even... who cares, it's not even to do with the NF, it's that sometimes you annoy people just by being there, it's like that in life there are people who don't agree.
Speaker A
You'll never know why. Like, we all have a hater, go and find out why he doesn't like you.
Speaker A
Because if you're asked why he doesn't like you, you say, “I don't know. I've done nothing to this guy, I don't know him.
Speaker A
I'm getting on with my life," but just your being there or the fact that you exist annoys him.
Speaker A
Ous, you're affected by criticism, too. Or it has affected you? Because sometimes you've been under the spotlight.
Speaker A
I've made a buzz. I've made a buzz more than once. He's made the headlines.
Speaker A
Made the headlines. He was there. Yeah, from the age of 18 until my second or third year at Barcelona, when I went from Rennes to Dortmund to Barcelona, I often used to look at social media, what was being said, et cetera, about me.
Speaker A
I took it a little to heart, you know, it hurt me, et cetera But, bit by bit, I said to myself basically, you're always going to have someone who doesn't agree, someone who doesn't like you, someone who can't stand you, as Thomas said.
Speaker A
So I thought go ahead, I'm moving forward, actually. And then you have a truth which is the pitch.
Speaker A
That's why I love soccer. I love sport in general, but in any case, I really love soccer.
Speaker A
The truth of the pitch, it doesn't lie. Every single one of them. You a bit less, Aurélien, even so.
Speaker A
Everyone has different sensitivity on the pitch. Yeah but... That's just it. What I was saying.
Speaker A
Well, what I meant to say about you, is that these two have been in tricky situations in soccer terms, you know what I mean.
Speaker A
Yeah, but we all have our moments. No, it's no big deal, they're sports problems.
Speaker A
And each of you, as you said, focused on work and told people to shut up by what you did on the pitch, through the sport, See what I mean?
Speaker A
That's not the case for me, for example, artistically, a journalist can do what he likes, he can harm you just like that.
Speaker A
I can't restore the balance. It doesn't matter how many venues you fill or how well you go down there.
Speaker A
It's abstract, because I'm in an art and art is abstract. You don't have to laugh at my shows, or like my films. You don't have to.
Speaker A
But these... sporting performance... He scores a hat trick, he makes three decisive passes, He doesn't even need to talk.
Speaker A
That doesn't exist for us. Write that down for the next match. Seriously, you have that truth. When they were criticizing you, he's not really a full-back yada, yada.
Speaker A
He plays in the Euros they say. Best full-back. “Wow, Koundé, that's insane!” You know what I mean? You need to go back six months.
Speaker A
Listen to the radio sometimes... Then six months later, wonderful, they love you. You know what's difficult sometimes, as an athlete, it's being your own critic.
Speaker A
You know what i mean. Because what can happen, I don't know if it's the case for you guys, but sometimes you finish a match and you personally think that you didn't play well.
Speaker A
Then you listen to your entourage, your coaches, maybe. And they say, “No, you've had a great match”, et cetera.
Speaker A
Then, when you go home, what do you tell yourself? Well, I think I didn't play well, so that means I didn't play well.
Speaker A
Or if other people are telling me that perhaps I've played well. That means that perhaps the view of my performance is a bit biased.
Speaker A
Or, in the opposite case, if we switch it round. You think you've played great, but everyone tells you in the press, etc that you didn't play well.
Speaker A
When you go home, what do you do? So I think the most important thing, and the most difficult, is being your own critic and keeping to your own guidelines.
Speaker A
Because, at the end of the day, as we were saying, social media and stuff like that, there'll always be people who are going to say something.
Speaker A
It's very, very rare to agree on a performance. But sometimes, when you finish a match.
Speaker A
Precisely, in relation to what you've just said, you know, you know at the end of a match.
Speaker A
Personally, I know. Yes, me too. I've been lousy sometimes. Now I know. That's true! Sometimes you've annoyed us and we've thought, “What's he done?" “Why are you shooting wide, bro?" It drives you crazy.
Speaker A
I myself know when I've played well and when I haven't. Yeah, yeah, do you know, too? Yeah, I know, too.
Speaker A
Because, actually, what people, don't realize is that we've got other criteria, too. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Because we're focusing on our performance.
Speaker A
We have things that are goals for us, even in a match. And sometimes, people may think we've had a good match.
Speaker A
But I know I haven't had a good match in relation to my perception, in relation to what I know I'm capable of delivering, what I'm capable of doing on a pitch and also, sometimes you're judged on, things which, for example
Speaker A
I'll use my own full-back position as an example. I'm judged on things which aren't among my main strengths, for example, my job, and it's always been my job because first and foremost I'm a central defender and above all a defender, in fact.
Speaker A
So my goal, when I walk out onto the pitch, is for the team not to concede any goals and to put in a good defensive performance.
Speaker A
I haven't make any decisive passes, I haven't scored, I haven't done anything amazing offensively.
Speaker A
I'm fine with that because that's my primary role. And for me, playing offensively is something I see as a plus, that doesn't mean I give it less importance, so it isn't something I want to improve.
Speaker A
But it's actually not my main goal. Of course. And that is also a vision now of this position which has changed considerably because we're in a world where now, well actually for quite a while, full-backs have had to defend and attack, as well.
Speaker A
And like you, basically, that's not your position. It's what you're saying, people are using a benchmark which isn't your own benchmark in terms of matches. No, that's it exactly.
Speaker A
And then, I think, once again, we shouldn't be resistant to change. I understand that the position has changed and that now it requires other things and that's why I'm working on it, too.
Speaker A
But when we were talking about differences in points of view, and I think that's it, it's that sometimes players are judged on certain things that aren't actually things.
Speaker A
That aren't their main strengths. That aren't their main strengths and even things... Not their job.
Speaker A
Yeah, not their job. But people, for example, don't know what the coach asks a player to do before a match. That, too.
Speaker A
They don't know the game plan. Which means... He might tell you, “Don't go forward”.
Speaker A
Yeah. That may change from one match to the next. And also the thing is with offensive players and Ous, tell me if this is wrong, an offensive player can be lousy for the entire match.
Speaker A
And if he scores, if he passes the ball. Two strikes, two goals, man of the match, end of.
Speaker A
But because it's his job, too. If people don't see you for the whole match, but you score the winning goal, it's a successful match.
Speaker A
It's your job, too, but then there's... For me, these are visions of soccer which are, which depend.
Speaker A
I think now that's really where we're at. You'll tell me afterwards, but I think that before, that wasn't so much the case.
Speaker A
And now, it's also made room, left more space for creative players. That's right. What about you, Ous? For example, when we talk about stats, et cetera.
Speaker A
What do you actually prefer? Seriously. Because everyone knows you're one of the best dribblers in the world, everyone knows that.
Speaker A
But at the end of the match, what do you want to keep in mind? Is it more the stats or the enjoyment?
Speaker A
The enjoyment of having played well and been of use. Even though you didn't make the assist or score the goal, you performed an action that led to the goal, made the second assist, as it's called.
Speaker A
You see. But at the end of a match where you lose balls, you don't dribble past a player, but eventually you've scored a goal in the 78th minute, you've pushed a ball to the far post.
Speaker A
And you haven't played well, no, I'm not interested in that. That's not enjoyable soccer.
Speaker A
No, it's not enjoyable soccer. But Ousmane's got... Seriously. I don't know if you're aware of it, but you're the successor of neighborhood soccer.
Speaker A
You represent for all neighborhood players. When they see you, when we watch a match.
Speaker A
We know you're there. We say, "Please, make me.... Make me love this." Give me a thrill.
Speaker A
Ben Arfa, he's gone. No, it's true, but Ben Arfa was in quotes before you or in parallel.
Speaker A
It was that all the time. “Ish ish” soccer. That's precisely the heritage you were talking about. Soccer has changed and not many players like that are still around.
Speaker A
And you're the successor. You're one of the last guys that we think even if you shoot over the top, it's no big deal. It doesn't matter.
Speaker A
Just give us a thrill. Because that's actually why. That's why we go to the stadium.
Speaker A
People watch matches. There are other things, there are players with other strengths, but that's priceless because it's emotional, you know what I mean.
Speaker A
That's right. Don't you find actually that the same type of players as Ousmane, that's something you get less and less actually, because people are more into... Because people are more into stats.
Speaker A
Because people are more into stats, people are more into: We're going to calculate how many kilometers you've run, how many passes you've made, backwards, forwards, et cetera. It's not useful.
Speaker A
You feel like you've become all about limits. Players have turned into robots. How many goals? How many assists have you made?
Speaker A
And even in the style of play, I don't know how to explain it, even in the approach to dribbling.
Speaker A
That's why I'm saying, actually, we may perhaps be getting at them. I'm not in the clubs, but when I look at him, I see a guy in quotes who I could have played with when I was young.
Speaker A
Who does stuff that makes you say, "Wow, he's so good" and with a very personal approach, actually.
Speaker A
I don't even know if you yourself can explain it. There are guys who are really good dribblers too but haven't got that.
Speaker A
There are other players who, when you watch them, you say, "Yeah, you're playing really well", but I don't get that thrill.
Speaker A
There's the German who everyone's talking about at the moment. He's really good, but I don't get that thrill.
Speaker A
Yes, he's the kind of player JK (Jules Koundé) you pass the ball to and say, "Go on, show us".
Speaker A
and say "Go on, show us" Yeah, that's right. I think it's important to have players like that, otherwise soccer would be boring if there were just guys who did stats and who you don't see in the game or who don't disrupt, who don't dribble.
Speaker A
As in every area, if there are only guys who are similar to each other, it gets boring.
Speaker A
It takes us back to the game, too, to the concept of the game. That's important, too.
Speaker A
Whether it's Ousmane or you, Aurélien, down the middle or you, Jules in defense. Soccer is still a game.
Speaker A
We're coming back to the notion of enjoyment, simple enjoyment see, that's why. For example, in England, it's one of the best, even the league.
Speaker A
Maybe lots of great names because guys sometimes applaud tackles. I like, I like great defending.
Speaker A
I'm for Italian football. Tactics, great defending. I get the same kick out of watching defenders, who are defending well, tackling well, et cetera, as watching a guy who dribbles well.
Speaker A
Italy's changed a lot. It's not too Catenaccio and all that anymore. No, Catenaccio hasn't been played for ages.
Speaker A
Since 2006, there's been a real change, there's a real tactic, but they play offensively, too.
Speaker A
There are mid-table teams who are really focused on moving forwards. That stereotypical Italian soccer is over.
Speaker A
Yeah, I know what you mean. Because if you play against Inter, it'll be a hard match.
Speaker A
They're really good. Really good. Juventas. But in any case, to finish what I was saying, the concept of the game, we don't talk about that much in soccer, but in a match, sometimes, there are times when actually, we come back to it.
Speaker A
Sometimes, there are really tactical matches, where the guys, and you think, “Hey, soccer is actually a game”. It's a passion, too.
Speaker A
Yeah, from a spectator point of view. Yes. Because at some point, we watch soccer, you know what I mean. But when we're experiencing it, that's when it stirs the emotions.
Speaker A
Take the World Cup final, for example. At the end of the day, the result doesn't matter.
Speaker A
Not for everybody. Obviously, we'd rather have had a different outcome. Of course. But at the end of the day.
Speaker A
But when you're playing the game, you know it's super complicated. It's hard to step back like that.
Speaker A
Those things. Seeing things that way, when you're..., when you're experiencing it, and also when you're playing at a high level, in the performance and from the competitive aspect.
Speaker A
Where does it come into play, the happy medium, I mean? It's super different even from one player to the next, and from one spectator to the next as well.
Speaker A
As you were saying, there are spectators who applaud tackles, that happens a lot in England.
Speaker A
You've got others who want goals and passes, because, after all, that's the essence of the game.
Speaker A
But finding the happy medium is hard. It's really personal. Everyone has their own concept of enjoyment.
Speaker A
For you especially, for sure in terms of enjoyment, since it's your job anyway, it's tricky. I don't know.
Speaker A
Actually, I'm curious to find out where you get your fundamental enjoyment on a soccer pitch.
Speaker A
Now, that's interesting. Where is the happy medium between enjoyment and work? No, no, for sure, that depends on the matches.
Speaker A
Obviously, there are, matches where you get up in the morning, "Let's go", you know, you get up on the morning of the match and think, "Right, let’s go".
Speaker A
You put on your Sochaux jersey. There are other matches where you need to maybe tap into different things to get that determination, that desire.
Speaker A
And then, what I think motivates us, entices us, is the competitive element. Because sometimes we play every three days.
Speaker A
But sometimes, when you have long weeks, even though training is where you make progress, etc, where you get your enjoyment, it's the weekend.
Speaker A
It's at matches. It's at matches and that's where, no matter the game, even though obviously there are matches that you're more motivated to play, like a final or semi-final in a major championship or in a major tournament, than a league game.
Speaker A
That's normal. And I think sometimes people find that hard to understand. But that's something you can lead back to everyday life as well.
Speaker A
For sure, there are days when you are keener than others. It's still your job. It's normal.
Speaker A
You're a human being, that's how it is. You have those matches sometimes. There are parallels with my sad amateur level.
Speaker A
Where you say, nothing can happen to me, I'm too good. As they say in basketball, I'm in the zone.
Speaker A
At your level, do you feel like you're in the zone? You've got that, but when you receive it, when you're a defender, it's not good.
Speaker A
Do you feel more confident? Yeah, because you think you're in the zone. And then 10 seconds later, you're not in the zone anymore and you cost your team a goal.
Speaker A
But the zone when you're a winger. Ah, yeah, in that zone, That's something else.
Speaker A
I remember a match when we were at Barcelona. It was Real Sociedad. Quarter finals, I think.
Speaker A
Do you remember? you passed to me and then I scored. Ah, yes, yes. In that match, I felt untouchable. Unplayable. Unplayable.
Speaker A
I remember... He was so cool when he said that! I figured it out. I controlled, I passed all the time.
Speaker A
But there, you feel it before, or when you're on the pitch. No, no, in your first direct action.
Speaker A
It sometimes happens during the warm-up, you say, wow, today, here we are, it's the match.
Speaker A
Then you get there, at the match and in fact, no. Yeah yeah yeah. You know, at the warm-up you say "ah yeah". Because when you get to the warm-up, you know, the first strides.
Speaker A
It's happened to me, change of wing, left foot, right foot, it feels good tonight.
Speaker A
After 25 minutes, I pass to the full-back, go on, change side. I don't touch the ball today.
Speaker A
That's also the beauty of the thing, it's that it's a team sport, and your performance doesn't just depend on you.
Speaker A
I still think it depends mainly on you. Starting from getting ready in the right way.
Speaker A
But loads of things can happen. You get a red card ten minutes in or a yellow card, your match...
Speaker A
Of course. It's already different, you see. I have a little question, Jules. Sorry, Thomas.
Speaker A
Go ahead. Your Sochaux shirt there, we heard you have a little story about Sochaux.
Speaker A
Can you share it with us? Yes, a little story but then I... It's a coincidence that I'm wearing it. Did you buy it?
Speaker A
Was it a gift? No, I bought it. He's asking but he knows full well.
Speaker A
Adidas gave it to you. No, no, I bought it this very morning in Brussels.
Speaker A
This very morning in Brussels. So it's just for The Bridge? In fact it wasn't planned, but you know... At a second-hand store?
Speaker A
Yeah, at a vintage store. But you know someone likes... You won't get that from Adidas, eh? He's good.
Speaker A
You see, that's the problem. So I bought it this morning. The 80s, in fact, it's a reminder too because it reminds me how, when I was younger, I had a Bordeaux shirt like that, in a similar style, saying Malardeau, so right away
Speaker A
it brought back memories, you see. And beyond that, I like the look of it.
Speaker A
It looks awesome with the little old-style Peugeot logo. It's cool. Stéphane Paille, I told him earlier, he didn't know.
Speaker A
But I'm a little bit younger. Pedretti... We were already old. It's true. Stéphane Paille was somebody. Stéphane Paille.
Speaker A
Sorry... May he rest in peace, a really great center forward. But JPP wiped him out, JPP said, "everyone get to the side, it's my time".
Speaker A
So, my little story is that before going to the Girondins training center, in fact, I did a trial for Sochaux.
Speaker A
A trial. Oh yeah? A trial for Sochaux. A scout had been following me for some time and invited me to try out for Sochaux. So I remember that.
Speaker A
He came to my house to pick me up really early in the morning. And the drive was 10 or 11 hours including stops and I've always been a big sleeper, I still am and in fact I slept for the whole journey, I only woke up to eat.
Speaker A
We stopped at the motorway services, we ate and then... I fell asleep until we arrived.
Speaker A
I'm not surprised. I stayed for a few days. I trained at the château, et cetera.
Speaker A
I played a match, I got through it. I wasn't outstanding, but I didn't do too badly.
Speaker A
In the end, the trial was unsuccessful. So I wasn't signed to Sochaux. And I found out later from my coach at the time, at the club where I played near Bordeaux, at La Brède, that in fact, one of the reasons why I wasn't signed,
Speaker A
was that the scout thought it was really disrespectful. The fact that I slept for the whole journey.
Speaker A
No way! No! So in fact... It was partly due to that. And maybe they also thought I was tired out, that can happen, but I was told the scout didn't appreciate it.
Speaker A
So... The scout was a bit harsh though. An eleven-hour drive, was that a test or what?
Speaker A
It's a Hunter challenge, it's crazy. If he's listening to us now, maybe he can tell us if it's not true.
Speaker A
But that's what I heard, but there are no hard feelings. In the end, you're wearing the shirt...
Speaker A
It's a lovely shirt. Me, J.K of course, I've known you for a very long time so I've followed your whole career.
Speaker A
Everything you've done, and you've followed mine. Ous, we didn't know each other before, but we watched you on TV, we saw all your achievements, and you're the oldest.
Speaker A
Yeah, he's the oldest and I wanted to know the differences between your two careers.
Speaker A
Because you've always been seen as the ace. I worked hard for it though. Oh Ousmane, no, he's right because remember, when I knew you as a kid, I knew him as a kid.
Speaker A
In Rennes, for the record. Could we have the photo? I have the photo, I'll post it for The Bridge exclusively.
Speaker A
I knew him and I was doing a show, the team had come. I don't remember very well... Pro team? Pro team.
Speaker A
What age were you? I wasn't pro. He wasn't pro. But you were with them.
Speaker A
Right! And there was Ntep, who was at the top. And I said, who's next?
Speaker A
The whole team went like that. They said him, they pointed at you like that, he was there with his cap.
Speaker A
What age were you when you joined the French team? 20. 20? A bit like you.
Speaker A
Yes but what age were you when you became a world champion? 21. There you are.
Speaker A
But you see what I mean in the sense that... My path was very clear, I come from Evreux, I was spotted by Stade Rennais.
Speaker A
What's more, I was signed to Le Havre. At the start, I was signed to Le Havre and in the end I pulled out.
Speaker A
I said to myself, no, Rennes, I'd rather sign with Stade Rennais. Were there any issues?
Speaker A
Because the HAC is a big training center, especially for Normandy, for players who have potential in Normandy.
Speaker A
No, there were no issues. I went to Rennes, I did lots of trials for Rennes and then I signed to Stade Rennais.
Speaker A
I spent eight years there, I arrived in pre-training in 2012. It was hard at first.
Speaker A
They made my whole family move. It was hard at first. Then I gradually rose to the top.
Speaker A
But you already had... Of course, it's hard work. In fact, the question is more to do with how people saw you, not necessarily you, the effort you made to get to that level.
Speaker A
But at one time, I remember, we all heard it, even when you were in the youth categories.
Speaker A
No! Yes, really. In U-18, U-19, yeah. Bear in mind, there are three years between us and Ous, even me, guys of my generation from Rennes.
Speaker A
They were already talking about Ousmane. Yes, from Rennes, yes. No but from all over, at tournaments and everything.
Speaker A
Yes, you heard it, there are people who knew him. We disagree. You're liars. I worked hard for it though.
Speaker A
I had no worries when I got there. I made a bit of a name for myself, it happened at the CFA.
Speaker A
Yes, I started. There were the kids, they watched the videos. "Ousmane Dembélé Skills". I remember.
Speaker A
With ski pop music over the top. Then, I turned professional. It was Ntep who made a decisive pass to me for my first goal and I took my chance.
Speaker A
You know the rest. Yes, but people saw something in you. A bit. Unlike Jules.
Speaker A
No offence, bro. But it was more complicated. At first, we already talked about it, people didn't expect you to have the kind of career you have today.
Speaker A
Is that right, basically? It's true. I... Let's say I was never the guy you'd put money on, regardless of the categories I went through.
Speaker A
But my strength, shall we say, was that I was definitely the most serious, the most disciplined and the hungriest.
Speaker A
He likes that label. He loves that label. That's their problem. Your group is tricky.
Speaker A
You can't get a word in edgewise with him. See how he's beefed up, since he's been at Barça?
Speaker A
You can't get a word in edgewise. In three carb sessions. A gym session at 6 am, 10 am.
Speaker A
No! 6 pm, oh Thomas. 6 am? No, not that early. Yes! Together sometimes. Yes, oh yes. Definitely! Yeah.
Speaker A
6 am. Not 6 am, 7 am, 7.30 am. OK, but in any case, the team is asleep, he goes down to train.
Speaker A
Because I know him, eh? Credit where it's due, you have always had that work ethic.
Speaker A
It has developed, but I've always been like that, even at the center. But hang on, excuse me Jules, I'll just interrupt you here.
Speaker A
Still on this topic. When you go down to the gym, is it your body telling you it needs it, or is it the discipline saying, get down there, Jules.
Speaker A
It's both. I started setting that up because I thought I still had room to optimize my performance.
Speaker A
I could save time and I had that time to train more. And in the end, it becomes a habit and you have to keep it up because it gets results.
Speaker A
I feel good, yes, and in the end, it's a need you create. You see it's not there at the start and when you don't do it, you don't feel good.
Speaker A
Your body doesn't feel good, you even know yourself that today, you didn't do it when you were supposed to.
Speaker A
So it's something that develops as you go along. But no. To return to what I was saying earlier, it's that I was never necessarily the one you'd put money on.
Speaker A
But each time, I always passed each milestone. There were setbacks at times, I'm thinking of that position that is still an important thing.
Speaker A
You see, in my background and in my career, I was trained throughout my career as a central defender and that happened at the CFA, in reserve.
Speaker A
They told me because there was a new coach, he sees you more as a right-back. Ah, that's where it began?
Speaker A
Yes, that's where it began. But you didn't tell us. I told you. I understand Xavi better now, why he put you on the right.
Speaker A
So, it was hard to deal with because it's also a matter of self-confidence. I remember I was going to train with the pros, right-back, I had very little experience of that position and already, when you go and train with the pros, you know,
Speaker A
it's already impressive. Playing in your position is already hard. And when they put you in a position you're not used to where your qualities...
Speaker A
And physically you were still... Yeah, I was still developing, but especially, they send you to do crosses.
Speaker A
I did crosses for guys like Jérémy Ménez. Cool guys. They were cool, but you were sending, do you remember what?
Speaker A
They said, stop sending us sloppy passes, I remember but you know, now when I think back to it, those are things that helped me to progress because I always had people who were demanding towards me.
Speaker A
But even with the youth team, I thought that. Jocelyn Gourvennec and Eric Beck, our first coaches as pros.
Speaker A
Great players too, by the way. They were always on our backs, they were tougher on us than they were on the older ones.
Speaker A
I remember the technical circuit. You missed a pass. They roasted you although the others had missed five before you.
Speaker A
You see. But in fact, it teaches you to demand a lot from yourself and helps you make progress.
Speaker A
Because also, perhaps, they saw the potential because some people can see what you can't see yourself.
Speaker A
But it's like that with everyone. Yeah? Yeah. And it was hard to train with the professional group at first.
Speaker A
Who was the coach? At Rennes? Yes. Philippe Montanier, we didn't come up, the young ones didn't come up like that. OK.
Speaker A
We had to prove ourselves. I proved every weekend that I was good enough just to train.
Speaker A
And then, after the things that happened, I started coming up. What happened? There were the clashes.
Speaker A
With the coach? Yes, with the coach a bit. And that's when I began to train with the professionals.
Speaker A
I've had lots of clashes in my career, just... Little stories. No, it was just... Adjustments. No.
Speaker A
Discussions? We didn't understand each other. Yes, there were discussions. A misunderstanding. Nothing serious. Yes, you have to speak up.
Speaker A
Talking about discipline. Thomas, in your job, do you need self-discipline? Yeah. And then I have another question for you about what we were saying earlier.
Speaker A
Yes, you need self-discipline, because these are such artistic jobs and you tend to think you're a genius.
Speaker A
In fact, in my job, you really tend to think it's innate and you don't need to work at it but in fact you always have to work at it.
Speaker A
In our job, the ego can become inflated, even in fiction, I've just finished filming and there are people all around you, "Are you thirsty?" and so on, you're at the center of everything.
Speaker A
You're being filmed, you see people, they're your fans in a way. You're going to think you're really funny.
Speaker A
But you might be doing a lousy job. If you don't question yourself, and if you work on the stage for example, you can't cheat there.
Speaker A
The stage is the closest thing to the field of justice, as I call your soccer pitch for example.
Speaker A
If you're not funny, you're not doing your job. In any case, if no-one laughs, it's goodbye.
Speaker A
Have a nice day, you know what I mean. Has it happened to you? Of course. A show you weren't good in.
Speaker A
Of course, it's important. But how does that materialize? You're not inside it. You're not inside it all.
Speaker A
Now, I have enough experience to know if it's me. When you're young, you often say, this audience is weird.
Speaker A
It's the wrong crowd. You say silly things, in fact it's you who aren't doing the work.
Speaker A
And at some point, you know yourself and you have your habits, and the older I get, now, the more rigorous I am so nothing is left to chance and I come with a determined attitude.
Speaker A
They say, it comes naturally, but it doesn't, I work at it. I concentrate because you have to have flopped once, one day, a long time ago, total confidence, because the problem with this job is that you succeeded the day before, you made them laugh,
Speaker A
so the next day, you say it's fine, you don't put the work in. It's in the bag.
Speaker A
So you get there, you haven't worked at all and it's an endless tunnel, you're awful, you're not yourself, you think.
Speaker A
You said you feel it after 20 minutes. Here, after 40 seconds you think, oh, it's not working, and when you panic, you suck.
Speaker A
Can you make up for lost ground, when you're on stage? You can, you can.
Speaker A
I've had two big flops on stage, one was traumatizing. Where? At the Théâtre de Dix Heures.
Speaker A
OK, your first show? A long time ago, things changed after that. In fact it was a kind of medicine.
Speaker A
That day, I said to myself, don't assume, work, do the work first, respect the stage, respect the audience.
Speaker A
People are paying you. Before a show, you have a beer, you finish... "Wait, I'm going on stage," you hang up, who do you think you are?
Speaker A
In fact, it's not possible. You go into your bubble, you work, you take your time.
Speaker A
You review things. At least then if you fail, you know you did the work.
Speaker A
You know what i mean. You know that whatever happens, some things are in your power.
Speaker A
And you're sincere. But if you seem proud, thinking you're funny, do you think you're the only one, mate?
Speaker A
There are 100 others who are funny too. You know what I mean, I'm not saying, if there are loads of comics, I'm leaving.
Speaker A
And we have a witness here. Because you, Ousmane, you met each other, you were young and you'd seen him perform.
Speaker A
I saw him perform. I saw him before too. Not on stage? Not on stage, on TV.
Speaker A
Live? No, on TV. Ah, on TV, that's possible, yes. On TV and then I saw him live. And he made you laugh.
Speaker A
Of course. Very funny. Yes, with Jamel Comedy Club already. When they went on tour, that's a classic.
Speaker A
That's the one. That's a classic. I watched it recently. I re-watched it last year.
Speaker A
But you know, I was in Montreal. You really get some people... They stopped me, like: "We can't believe it's you".
Speaker A
Even now, yesterday night... Even now? Yes, in fact, since it's on YouTube, there's a kind of...
Speaker A
It's come around again. And it's coming back a bit more. Yeah, people like it.
Speaker A
And then in fact, there's another thing, we're all playing roles, thank God. But in fact, some people wonder, "Did they really screw or not?".
Speaker A
Yeah, that's true, I thought it was real. A woman confronted me in the street over it.
Speaker A
Because my character, he was a bit simple in a way, there was a scene, I won't go into it.
Speaker A
But she confronted me, she said, "Mister, you really should be more careful. All struggles are important," and before I could answer...
Speaker A
she took off. I couldn't believe it. She saw the thing, she took it... At face value. Yeah, at face value.
Speaker A
I understood, it would take too long to explain, I thought, ah yeah, she didn't get it, poor thing.
Speaker A
So you've reached Ous's generation, what made you laugh when you were young? Back then, were you just as funny when you were young?
Speaker A
No, people will say I was, but no. Really, I'm a natural. You just like to laugh. Really, I love to laugh.
Speaker A
A good atmosphere, especially when we're in a group, as a team or with three or four guys I know.
Speaker A
You know, I like it when there's a good atmosphere, we tease each other a bit, for me it's always been like that, all my life it's been like that.
Speaker A
Then there are times when you have to be serious. Of course. But before a match, I like to tease Jules.
Speaker A
I often teased Jules. What do you say to him? "Leave me alone!" No, how he would arrive all dressed up.
Speaker A
He was already dressed up at Barcelona. Haven't you seen it? Yes, but I saw it over there.
Speaker A
They've banned it now, they've banned it, bro. You can always find a way. No, I was always trying to tease him.
Speaker A
So I've always been like that. Before the matches, you still have this attitude, you don't change...
Speaker A
No, I don't change. Always the same. Even during the matches, I think. You're concentrating, you focus on the match.
Speaker A
Sometimes he escapes. But he's a real winner. Yeah, as you've seen, as soon as we play little games, things like that, he gets directly involved or even during the match, for example, if we're winning and you see, as he was saying earlier,
Speaker A
he doesn't have this notion of pleasure or when we're not playing well etc. You'll see it directly.
Speaker A
Yeah directly. You shout at them sometimes since they're your kids. “Tranquillo de quoi ?”!
Speaker A
Er no, it's OK, OK. But you see what I'm saying. It's important that people know he's a winner.
Speaker A
And you see, I think sometimes this image of a carefree guy who likes a joke, people who don't really know him misinterpret that because one thing doesn't cancel out the other.
Speaker A
Just because he's a cheerful person who likes a joke, et cetera. They're completely different things.
Speaker A
Exactly, but nonetheless, I think that has sometimes worked against him in the media image they've tried to give him, because sometimes, people struggle to separate things.
Speaker A
In the same way we talked about separating the fact of arriving at Clairefontaine dressed in a certain way and still being focused, wanting to win, you see, and at times, in the situation we're in especially, I feel like people struggle to separate things.
Speaker A
Often, it's black or white, but really, you see, life is more often gray. I'd go further than that.
Speaker A
And don't you think that today, because it's been like that for a long time.
Speaker A
In our day, it was like that. The soccer player was a soccer player and now, you're not just a soccer player, you have a life outside soccer, so you're able to be emancipated.
Speaker A
You have your own personalities. For us, back then, people didn't see all that. There was a big change after 98.
Speaker A
Looking at Les Bleus too. Yes, but in any case, in relation to French soccer, in the sense that 98 spelled the end for a certain type of player.
Speaker A
Because there was a new format. Which is due to a thing called immigration. And there were more and more players coming.
Speaker A
Before Basile Boli, Desailly, there were some... Going back further, Marius Trésor. You had a few coming by from time to time like comets, and at one point you had other generations.
Speaker A
Soccer is a working-class sport so people play working-class sports in working-class areas which have a new type of people living in them, so more people from the Maghreb, Africans, see?
Speaker A
So with all that, the transition was not so easy and we saw that but...
Speaker A
I think it goes beyond that, for me we're really going beyond... That did happen, I agree.
Speaker A
But it was a burden. I can tell you that, at our age, that they are reaping the rewards and luckily they are showing other things.
Speaker A
But I think the generation of Knysna, Ribéry, all those, they had a hard time with their fair share of mistakes.
Speaker A
You might make mistakes, no worries, but they were... It moves me because I thought, damn, those guys, they couldn't get away with anything, because the ones before them were Platini.
Speaker A
Papin, slowly we moved on to Thierry Henry, Benzema. The media weren't ready for it, they didn't budge.
Speaker A
They were the same, exactly the same. Except at a one point, there was a loss of reference points, new personalities, new types of language.
Speaker A
You see a lot of thing and you think, if you don't look at that with kindness, of course, you think, what's all that about? You know what I mean?
Speaker A
No, but we got over that 20 years ago. Thomas. Here, it's more like... I think soccer players should just be soccer players.
Speaker A
They aren't allowed to exist outside the prism of soccer. And taking it further, like you did quite rightly according to your sensibilities, if you talk about social issues or things that affect you, people will say one of two things.
Speaker A
Either, "You're a soccer player, why are you commenting on that?" or "Why aren't you talking about that?", you are soccer players, you represent France, you have a voice.
Speaker A
I've said it before and one thing I like is the concept of being more than an athlete.
Speaker A
And before we even say more than an athlete. It's a slogan, I don't know if it's Uninterrupted, I think so, yeah?
Speaker A
But even before saying more than an athlete, it's like, we are first and foremost humans.
Speaker A
Meaning that before being a soccer player, we are normal people. We are like you, we poop, we pee.
Speaker A
Why did you go there? It's enough to say we're humans, you have to bring poop and pee into it, we're trying to raise the standard, awaken spirituality.
Speaker A
We do the same thing... You're putting us in the washroom, bro. It's just that what we do, basically, we go on TV.
Speaker A
So you see us on Sunday or Wednesday but at the end of the day, we eat with our families, there are fathers here, we do normal everyday things, what I find hard to understand at times is that as soon as
Speaker A
a public figure decides to take a position, like for example Jules did, or even you, Thomas, on some topics, or even you, Seb, right away, people go, "Ah, but you're a soccer player, focus on what you've got to do".
Speaker A
They outright tell me to focus on manga. You know what I mean and I don't understand and it all comes to saying you can never please everyone Whatever you say, there will always be someone to say you're overstepping the mark.
Speaker A
Stay in your lane. But Thomas, I think you talk a lot about fatherhood. I get the feeling it's something that marked you, that changed you and helped you evolve on many levels.
Speaker A
It's above all something I'd dreamed of since I was young. OK, you wanted it...
Speaker A
I couldn't say why, but deep down, after I hit a certain age, I really needed to have children.
Speaker A
What age did you become a dad? Late late late. Even talking about it now, it's complicated.
Speaker A
But when I had my first daughter it was... never mind, it's good, I had one before and one after.
Speaker A
I was a dad at 21, you see. 21? 21. But you're not a man at 21, it's not easy, you're still learning...
Speaker A
It changed my life. But I'm here. I have two children, my son and my daughter.
Speaker A
My son, I had him at 21, my daughter came later, but they're the greatest gifts I could have on this earth and that's why I say it changed me, helped me evolve, you see, 21 is young.
Speaker A
For me, it directly... Really, it made me focus on something other than myself. Indeed.
Speaker A
So I went to see him at the time and I won't go into it again every time.
Speaker A
But when I got up in the morning, went to the daily grind, et cetera, if it had only been for me, I wouldn't have been there.
Speaker A
Yeah, I get it. Now you're doing for your family, etc. And it even shifts you into a mindset where you're less egocentric.
Speaker A
That's it exactly, That's what Ousmane was saying. And yeah, when you stop living for just yourself, it's a nice feeling and one that I hope everyone gets to experience at some point, because, well, everyone's different and each to their own, etc.
Speaker A
But it's a really nice period in your life. When you've... Me, I'd hung up my boots. Honestly, I was done.
Speaker A
I was like, OK, I'm done, you know? I've done this, done that, been there.
Speaker A
What else do I need to do? You know what I mean? You need, you need...something.
Speaker A
And like I was saying, it was something I'd always dreamt about. But it's easy having a kid.
Speaker A
We're all, "capable" of having a child, but being a father is another thing. You know what I mean? And not everyone deserves it.
Speaker A
Not everyone knows how. So you know, when it happens, it was really a nice thing.
Speaker A
You come back to this notion that you learn from older folks Or from other people you meet, The idea of legacy, you know?
Speaker A
And I mean, I'm not old yet, Look at me, I'm still young. I still have some good years left.
Speaker A
No seriously man, I'm still in the game, 100%. Even Koundé, he's looking at my outfit, and thinking "Shit...
Speaker A
...maybe I should have worn leather." He's been taking the spotlight off me for the past hour with his, his ridiculous yellow jersey, when we're all wearing sweaters that cost a fortune.
Speaker A
You see, earlier we asked, he said it was a nice outfit, and now he calls it a "ridiculous jersey." I bottled it up, I couldn't say it earlier.
Speaker A
Just between us, It's awful, this yellow cotton thing. We're here on YouTube... And he was complimenting you, “Yeah, Thomas has this nice sweater.” That's the problem with actors.
Speaker A
They're very good at changing faces, switching between characters. It's all a strategy, right? It's a very fine line.
Speaker A
You got a customer here. J.K., you and I don't have kids. I mean, as far as I know, you don't have kids.
Speaker A
Oh yeah? No kids – don't start! That's why, you know, he said it, you look, he looks.
Speaker A
Let's make a new meme, it'll end up on Twitter. Who knows, eh? What I wanted to know is, what drives you on a daily basis?
Speaker A
Because what these guys are saying, and tell me if I'm wrong, is that that when you have a kid, it's an extra thing that helps you get up every morning and say OK, I'm not doing this just for me.
Speaker A
Mr Fashion? No, honestly it's difficult to answer because you know that sometimes, especially where we're from.
Speaker A
You can have a certain family pressure or people who depend on you and count on you.
Speaker A
I've never really had that. My mom never, because I grew up with just my mom, and she never really put me under any pressure to play football.
Speaker A
If I'd done something else, she didn't mind, you know. So actually, it's kind of a thing that's quite focused just on me.
Speaker A
It's a bit like you were saying. You know, you become a dad, maybe you focus on someone else, But for me I'm still so focused on myself and on what I want to become.
Speaker A
That's not necessarily a bad thing. No, no, no, because I.. On and off the pitch.
Speaker A
Especially... it's both, you know? Of course you want to make your family proud. That's always a priority.
Speaker A
But there's also something else, Something more selfish, more personal. And I think that that's the case for everyone who wants to achieve great things, who wants to succeed at their level.
Speaker A
You have to be a bit selfish, and that's also what drives me every morning.
Speaker A
It, it's about being the best version of myself. Sounds a bit clichéd to say it, but it's also– But it's the reality. Yeah, it's the reality.
Speaker A
And it's also, it's a philosophy for life, whether you're on the pitch or off it.
Speaker A
Because we have to say, you do a lot off the pitch as well, whether it's to do with business, or lots of other things, fashion...
Speaker A
Yeah. You're an athlete, as we say. Yeah, I'm curious. I'm curious, and in the positive sense, I think.
Speaker A
That's one of the qualities that I think is very important no matter what area you're trying to progress in, being curious.
Speaker A
Curious, wanting to share and interact with others. For me it happens through various things, it comes through my interests, it comes through travel, because I love to explore.
Speaker A
I love to explore other cultures, other people, being in other environments, and sometimes being in uncomfortable surroundings.
Speaker A
You know, like you were saying sometimes- Like what, for example? You know, just like environments where...
Speaker A
When I say uncomfortable, it could be something you really like but that you're not really familiar with, you know.
Speaker A
You're outside your comfort zone. Outside your comfort zone. Say, I've recently started getting into art, for example.
Speaker A
You know, you're there in a room where it's all these guys who know their stuff, they know it, they understand it.
Speaker A
And you're there, you know, you don't know anything, and you know, you're uncomfortable sometimes because you might be afraid to ask a certain question...
Speaker A
And so those I think are barriers you have to overcome. Yeah, that's something I noticed ever since, We've known each other a long time and I think it's a real strength, that curiosity itself.
Speaker A
We talked a lot about music, TV shows, etc. I could see you were into stuff from 20, 30 years ago, etc.
Speaker A
It's not exactly something that's... Nowadays we overconsume everything, we look forward instead of backwards, and I think that it's a real strength to be able to take the time to have the perspective needed to say "I also want to learn about the origins of
Speaker A
who made this movie or that movie," you know? Yeah it's true, it's sort of like you were saying earlier.
Speaker A
I think it's important to be able to look at the past so you know what came before.
Speaker A
Especially when you start getting into certain subjects, whether it's social topics, or other passions, like for me it's fashion, basketball, football, etc. It's important to look at the past so you understand the foundations and know what's been done, and why now
Speaker A
there are certain types of behaviors, why has there been progress in certain areas? You know? Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker A
That's what I love about it, and that's often how I get into certain areas which have now become my passions and my interests.
Speaker A
It's what's been done before because what's happening now, it's something that's, that's more within reach and more documented.
Speaker A
We talk about it all the time, but I like to travel back in time to look around.
Speaker A
Yeah, to see what it was like. Ous, you're also really into the past, history, all that.
Speaker A
Yeah. Lots of documentaries? Yeah, I love watching documentaries on Arte, I don't know, I go onto YouTube, I watch these documentaries about the past, about what happened during World War II.
Speaker A
You know, I like seeing what the dictators did. Like Mobutu? Mobutu... the German...the German one...
Speaker A
Don't say it. No, you can say it. No, on Youtube you'll get a warning.
Speaker A
I didn't know that. You never know. But yeah, historically. Stalin, all that, I love it.
Speaker A
But have you always been into that? Yeah, always. But why dictators? I don't know.
Speaker A
I know why. Because they're personalities. Yeah, that's it, they're personalities. You can say what you want, but... ...documentaries are really interesting.
Speaker A
Woah, you scared me for a second! The way you started that sentence. No, no, it's really interesting.
Speaker A
They're complex topics. Especially, how a whole country, these massive crowds get behind this one guy.
Speaker A
But even for your personal knowledge. Yeah, the knowledge. But the human aspect; the older you get, you know what I mean, the older you get you ask yourself how does a guy get so far, even in his mind.
Speaker A
And how does he get a whole country to follow him? It's incredible. Of course, but that, nobody knows that you watch those kinds of docs.
Speaker A
And do people even need to know that? If it's interesting. Like I said, we show what we want to show.
Speaker A
Yeah yeah yeah. Yeah, but see, you might, Like you were saying earlier, You might think that you have this image, Ous, of being sort of nonchalant, etc.
Speaker A
even though that's not the case at all. You see? There are life choices. You know, that image is based on 15-second videos.
Speaker A
Exactly. That's not your personality. The most important thing I think is that if it was really something that bothered him, the image that people have of him, there are things that, yeah, maybe he could have done to show a bit more
Speaker A
of what he likes, etc. But once you're at ease with who you are, and what people think, you don't really care.
Speaker A
You have to be at ease. You don't really need... It's complicated. Even me, little by little, people realize I don't give a shit.
Speaker A
Yeah, but he's right. No harm in saying it. No, it's true, seriously, you're right.
Speaker A
You gotta say it. Who gives a shit? It makes me think, when you say that, about all this stuff about living together.
Speaker A
Care to expand on that? Yeah go on, we're listening. Well it's exactly that. Do I need to expand on it?
Speaker A
How are we still talking about all that stuff? Because we've been living together for a good while now.
Speaker A
That's exactly what I'm saying. But I don't even need to justify it at the end of a show, saying "Thank you, this is great for France, to see this crowd, and Vive la France!" But I think for us, you know,
Speaker A
But I think for us, you know, the whole soccer environment we came up in.
Speaker A
It means that when you were playing back in the 'hood, in the schoolyard with your buddies, your classmates, I think that creates more of that feeling for us.
Speaker A
Of course. When, what I was saying earlier, about how soccer, but it's amazing, it's incredible, you can't reduce all of soccer to- Ah you see, there used to be that cliché of soccer players being dumb or whatever.
Speaker A
You can't reduce it to that. Soccer as a type of social mobility, I used to see the big guy, Paul-what was his name?
Speaker A
Ah, Paul. De Saint Sernin? Paul, rich white dude, long hair. Kid could have been Louis XVI's son, you?
Speaker A
Who? Louis XVI. Whoever. He's really funny. Yeah he's funny. I like him, I know him.
Speaker A
He says football, he comes along, long hair..... He's a good player too. Hold on, let me finish!
Speaker A
Paul who? Paul de Saint-Sernin Yeah, Paul de Saint-Sernin, you'd know his face. He's always making jokes when he goes on Léa Salamé's show, Whatever him with his long hair, all that, you might look at him and say...
Speaker A
But when he gets on the field, he's a good player. Now he's Paul, the number 8.
Speaker A
Now we're not saying, "Paul, with his double-barreled name" or whatever. Soccer brings that. In soccer there isn't all this stuff about...
Speaker A
you know what I mean. Soccer really, we don't realize because it's a working-class sport and it's accessible that way.
Speaker A
But in fact, what you guys are driving, it's priceless, and it should be valued.
Speaker A
And even from an educational point of view, in the sense that the school system in France isn't doing enough in terms of sport in the country to showcase and value these things.
Speaker A
Sport is an incredible vector. Of emancipation, of interaction. It brings something in terms of values.
Speaker A
Me, I've never, I love soccer as well, I've never laughed as much as I did in those locker rooms.
Speaker A
Whether we won or we lost, I never laughed so much. But when you lose, that's when you laugh the most.
Speaker A
Oh yeah? On the projects, we weren't like you guys. For us, when we lost it was 10-2, terrible scores, or 5-0.
Speaker A
You have to laugh; if you can't laugh about 5-0...I mean we really laughed. Of course, when it's over, we've had matches where you get on the bus, you're beside your buddy and you're like...
Speaker A
Yeah we got whupped today, you laugh about it. Nah, but we all remember those tournaments when you're young, we all did it even if it's over for me.
Speaker A
But when we played tournaments in Cannes and all that, you know, you travel, you see France, and sport is incredible.
Speaker A
And that's why you guys, at your level, French internationals and all that. You have to be aware, and I mean, you are, because you communicate well.
Speaker A
And actually that, unfortunately, that was where the older guys were wrong. Sometimes they could be too focused on themselves, too self-involved, and that's why there was this total shift away from that.
Speaker A
You know, I mean maybe there wasn't social media then, in their defense, so I don't know. And they didn't want to either.
Speaker A
I think that then there was a real desire to... Yeah but like I was saying, you know, there was this shift.
Speaker A
It wasn't easy, it's really not easy. They had real teething problems, I think, take a guy like Ribéry for example.
Speaker A
But I think he's great because he's totally sincere. He's just completely honest. Franck Ribéry When I saw people commenting, look at all his spelling mistakes, I wanted to knock them out.
Speaker A
Like you were saying, That's what it's like in France. How can you reduce this guy, Who came from the gutter – no disrespect – I'm not saying "the gutter" pejoratively, but he started from the bottom, in the North,
Speaker A
no training camp, but ends up at Galatasary, does it all, succeeds, and by 2006 he's the best in France.
Speaker A
If it weren't for him we wouldn't have made the final. Then he goes to Munich, Germany.
Speaker A
Legend at Bayern. In Germany, of all places, you know, at that time it took real guts to go there, the guy's a legend.
Speaker A
He could have won a Ballon d'Or. But Franck Ribéry, he's somebody, These are people we owe a lot to.
Speaker A
When, you know, you meet Franck Ribéry, He can go into any primary school. or wherever, he takes the mic, says hello.
Speaker A
I'm going to tell you my story. People are in tears. And now for the weather.
Speaker A
Ous, do you go to Africa much, or not really? No, not really. Do you have 2 ethnicities?
Speaker A
Yeah, I'm Mauritanian and Senegalese. But yeah, my family often go back, but us, with the schedule and everything... Yeah, it's not easy You prefer going to Japan.
Speaker A
No, more like the States. West Coast? New York, Los Angeles, after that... Mostly New York or Los Angeles.
Speaker A
I was more into New York. Yeah? Yeah, I went to New York. Maybe it was more Winchester?
Speaker A
No, before that, cut it out. He comes out with these things, guy's ruining the show.
Speaker A
You still play it? Yeah sometimes. How did you find out the news? I sent a message to the boss.
Speaker A
So it's pushed back, you know. Yeah we're talking about Football Manager. I couldn't believe it. I picked that up, yeah.
Speaker A
But I wanted, I wanted to start, but it looks too hard to get into.
Speaker A
There's too many things to handle. I need to play actively, you know. No, I love it. Me too.
Speaker A
The computer plays the game for you. No, it doesn't play for you, you pick the formation, you pick the players, you level them up, etc.
Speaker A
You talk to your players. You talk to your players. Team talk, crisis meeting. Ous, who was your breakthrough player on FM?
Speaker A
In FM? The star, The top guy. In FM. Honestly, I don't know. You don't have one?
Speaker A
You know, I went down there guys, Winchester, like you said. Back to where he grew up. Yeah, I stayed down there, I'm building it up.
Speaker A
With a lot of money from the start, right? What? There's a lot of money at the start, still. No, not true.
Speaker A
Something that fascinates me about you it that you know every team around the world.
Speaker A
It feels like you watch every single match. Again, he's jealous of me, he says I've got no culture.
Speaker A
Any time, you ask him who's top of the Japanese league? Things like that, he can tell you what's going on.
Speaker A
That sounds like a challenge! No no, with that stuff I recognize... It's true, he follows a lot of football.
Speaker A
I really like it. You really like it. It's just the passion for soccer. Yeah, passion for the game.
Speaker A
I love it. What's going on everywhere, in the States, South America, – everywhere – Japan.
Speaker A
Do you follow the French players in the MLS at all? Yeah, in Los Angeles, I mean, you can see there in LA, MLS is much more visible than...
Speaker A
Yeah, it's really grown. Do you see yourself 'cause I heard you talking about team talks, do you see yourself evolving after soccer, do you think about the future, or not really at the moment? How do you mean, the future?
Speaker A
Like about a career after soccer; I mean no pressure, but is it somewhere in the back of your mind? Ah, the business stuff. Nah.
Speaker A
Wait wait. Business, he's putting – Ous, when he puts his hands like that it means it's a serious topic.
Speaker A
Business is another thing. I was talking about just the passion for soccer, because I heard you talking about team talks and stuff.
Speaker A
All that. So I'm saying look, in the back of your mind somewhere is there something you think you'd like to do?
Speaker A
Personally, it doesn't interest me. Yeah. In the sense that when I look at the schedule we already have now, and I already don't have... let's say a family life.
Speaker A
If you add to that the same rhythm but as a coach, on top of that, you're not a player in the game or an assistant, And that's not the part that interests you?
Speaker A
You too? No, I see myself, I think There's something really interesting about being a coach and seeing the hold you can have on certain players, you know.
Speaker A
Well, when I say hold, it's not really a hold on them, it's more like influence and management.
Speaker A
I think that relationships, interpersonal relations generally and the coach/player relationship, I find that really interesting.
Speaker A
But then, like he was saying, It's true that the stress, because that's a factor when you're a player, you have this thing on some level, If you're with ten other players on the pitch, you have that thing, it's all on me. If I'm on the pitch, I can do it.
Speaker A
But being a coach, when I see that... It's a difficult job. There are all kinds of personalities in your group.
Speaker A
In ten years, where do you see yourself Ous? In ten years, after your career?
Speaker A
Dembélé Incorporated. You ever ask yourself? Dembouz Corporation. Dembouz Skynet. He'll be in Morocco. Ten years, yeah. 10 years, he'll still be in the game.
Speaker A
Nah, at some point you gotta say enough. Seriously, I'm telling you. So you're going to quit while you're at the top?
Speaker A
When you say enough is enough. 34 years old. Still early days. So what about after?
Speaker A
What will I do with my life after? Yeah. Well, first I hope... ...I'm setting up my pawns everywhere. What do you mean setting up pawns?
Speaker A
You already got stuff going? Hey now, let's not pry, you're asking for his business plan.
Speaker A
Hey man, they're in my ear saying: Ask him. Nah, like in real estate, you buy.
Speaker A
I dunno, different things, you have money. You know after your career, you buy a building here, in Africa, you got this one in France, it gives back, you know?
Speaker A
It keeps on giving back, but I don't see myself in sport. I think, what's crazy, Sorry Sébastien, just to add to what you were saying.
Speaker A
But it's true that for you, your career, it stops when other people's lives begin.
Speaker A
But yeah, guys, I started earning money 40 years ago. It's really exciting. No, of course, of course, but it's really exciting when you take the right turns.
Speaker A
When you plan ahead. Because it's, I mean... I mean guys, think about the NBA, just about that.
Speaker A
The number of guys who've lost everything in the NBA. Yeah but hold on, because you're talking about finances, and I agree.
Speaker A
Of course it would be really sad with all the nest eggs built up for all those years, then to end up with nothing.
Speaker A
But I'm talking about life, I'm talking about real life. What's going on? Like, for me, I remember the "Jubilee": the end of Zlatan's career.
Speaker A
Not gonna lie, I cried. I said this can't be happening, because for Zlatan, it was his body that said right, you have to stop now, but in his head he was saying, don't worry, I can still play.
Speaker A
He kept on going. And his body was like, OK it's over now, stop! You see a warrior who has to give in for the first time in his life.
Speaker A
You're like, woah! Something's happening here, you know? And it's Zlatan. Milan, you know, he lives his life, etc.
Speaker A
But when you say ok, now it's over, it's like you're watching a little death on live TV.
Speaker A
You know, it's over. That's what Thierry Henry said, once you stop playing. It's like a part of you dies. Of course.
Speaker A
But so do you see yourself going that way? Yeah totally. But that's what will happen because you don't have the same daily existence anymore.
Speaker A
You have to have something else that makes you want to get out of bed every morning.
Speaker A
Yeah, that's right. So what, for you for example, What is there after your career?
Speaker A
Like Ous was saying, for me I don't think it will be in sport. But I mean, what's true today isn't always true tomorrow.
Speaker A
But you know, entrepreneurship, being a manager, being the leader of a company, or like Ous was saying, having put your money in different things, diversified, and then being able to harvest the fruit of what you've set up.
Speaker A
But apart from money what do you see, Like what do you want? In the end, like for example guys like Magic Johnson.
Speaker A
You know, like Magic Johnson, even LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, these guys who had huge careers but they also do loads of other stuff on the side.
Speaker A
And they seem really happy. Really happy. Yeah, you see, they really look like they're living well.
Speaker A
Being a boss. You know, regardless of what you do, Really, just being a boss.
Speaker A
Still, I know that for one guy it's going to be hard, he's going to want to model when his playing career ends.
Speaker A
Nah, nah. It's going to hit us in the face a year or two from now.
Speaker A
One or two years from now you'll be on the catwalk. Nah, it's not... I'd put some pawns in your brand.
Speaker A
Nah it's... He's going to do the catwalks. They'll call you up for fashion week.
Speaker A
You'll see, he'll be up there. I mean it's hard, It's hard to say because I have so many different things I'm interested in, and I have – it's constant.
Speaker A
So I mean, I'm into a lot of things and so it's difficult to see myself a year from now doing this or that. Still, the goal is, like you were saying, to be secure, to have your family secure, to have investments,
Speaker A
but also to be able to give something back, you know? Think about other people.
Speaker A
Focusing on other people is something I try to do already, well, in a modest way, but it's...
Speaker A
And I'd like to do more, you know, but it takes time. But being able to build things as well, to focus on others, on your kids really.
Speaker A
Yeah, that's it, and then, at this age, you're not thinking about yourself anymore. Of course.
Speaker A
You have a family life, you have kids, etc. So you're not thinking about yourself anymore.
Speaker A
You're thinking more about... Football Manager 85, or what? Nah, that's done. You're crazy. But quitting soccer, for you...
Speaker A
Fair enough, it's true. I have a two-part question. Do you really love football? And then we'll finish on that.
Speaker A
Yeah, I absolutely love it. It'd be difficult to get out of bed every morning if you didn't really love it.
Speaker A
If I'm being honest with you, I'd be lying if I said I love football as much as before it got serious.
Speaker A
Before it became a job. Before it became a job, before entering the Academy Because you're thrown straight in to competition, and on some level, that's what's difficult too, or at least it can be, is dissociating from that.
Speaker A
What I mean is that soccer, for a lot of people, represents – it represents a huge part of your life.
Speaker A
And I remember that when I started, which wasn't that long ago, if things weren't going well on the pitch, then my life on the side was nothing, the other stuff going on, and I couldn't detach myself from it.
Speaker A
No perspective. So actually, that's what... Is that still the case now? No, it's not so much the case now, because over time, you know, you learn from the environment you're in and you understand that there are things that are more important than football.
Speaker A
Earlier you were saying, we were talking about being a parent. I think when you come home, lots of high-level athletes, not just footballers, say that when you get home and you see that little face or you see your wife holding your kid.
Speaker A
Then it's not about whether you won the match... Yeah, you see, it takes a back seat, and it doesn't mean you're less competitive or whatever, but you have a broader vision of things.
Speaker A
That's it, that's what you said, Thomas, in one of your shows. I remember that, even though I wasn't a dad yet, But you said every time you finish a show, I see my little girl, etc.
Speaker A
And it's the same thing for me after my matches. That's why it's difficult to picture yourself there.
Speaker A
And after they grow up and they're like: "Oh yeah, you lost, what a loser." So, to finish off – because it was a two-part question Yeah.
Speaker A
The end of your career is something, because I was talking for example about Zlatan earlier, when he finished the curtain came down.
Speaker A
Is that, is it something... That scares us? Precisely because, to come back to what I was saying, your career stops where life really begins for a lot of people.
Speaker A
Is this the moment where you say OK, I'm done with soccer, It's something that, when you picture your future, because God's given you a long career of however many years, but is it something that- not that you're worried about it right now, but is it something that
Speaker A
if you think about it, you wonder if it's going to be be really tough, or will you be like, Nah, actually it's...
Speaker A
Sometimes, sometimes I think about the day after. Yeah. The day after you end your career, in the sense that every day, except on your days off, every day you get up in the morning you know that you're going to training, or going to play a match,
Speaker A
your last match, the next day, you wake up. It's 10am. Right, OK, what am I doing today?
Speaker A
Woah. Is that scary? Yeah, it must be really something. That's why... Totally. It's something.
Speaker A
That's why you have to... you have to find something to do. But I mean, it definitely makes you think.
Speaker A
That's why you have to... You have to find another activity, fairly quickly. All of a sudden there's no more travel, you're not getting on a plane with your teammates and playing cards or ludo, I don't know.
Speaker A
You see your family every day, 24/7. But it's true. It's true. It's something that's already been said, but it's something you have to prepare for.
Speaker A
But beyond that, it's also...You can never really be prepared. No, there's always that next day where it can be...
Speaker A
But I think that when you find out and you're lucky enough to find out because you're the one who decides, like you were saying, it's not your body that stops you, because that's another story...
Speaker A
It's even more difficult. When you have other areas of interest to develop, and you haven't lived your life only through soccer, then you can face it in a much more chill way.
Speaker A
And even, I mean you have this kind of excitement to be heading into a new life.
Speaker A
I think about people like athletes or Kobe, for example. You know, who was definitely destined to do great things, but cared about other people and passing on a legacy, he had other interests even though he stayed in basketball, there was...
Speaker A
I mean the guy won an Oscar. Yeah, you're totally right. Because if I connect that back to my life, that's it, it's been years since I thought about my life in terms of my job.
Speaker A
But aren't you scared of quitting? Not at all, precisely because I took the time to try and be balanced, to be a decent person in life.
Speaker A
Are you looking forward to it? To what? To stopping? Stopping what? Your career? I don't think you ever really stop.
Speaker A
OK, cut this part! But no, there's no end to a career, there's no end to a career, You keep the torch burning, and it's funny that you say that because I think about it often, and I'm exceptionally lucky to have a really happy family,
Speaker A
and I mean incredibly happy, where there are personalities who really make me laugh and actually, I had three months on my own, on a location shoot, and so I was alone and sometimes I missed it.
Speaker A
I was like "Holy crap," you know I wasn't sad just because I was on my own for a while, but I realized if I didn't have that maybe that fire would slowly die.
Speaker A
You know, the sort of silliness of youth, that crazy laughter you have, all that is something you have to maintain.
Speaker A
When you become an adult, you lose your innocence. You know, even at my age, my parents are getting older, you know, people, you hear bad news on this front or that, all these things.
Speaker A
Me, I've always been fascinated by people's expressions. When I was little, I always, not even that little, actually, I wondered why people looked sad.
Speaker A
He used to be a ray of sunshine. Now he's just glum, because what happened, He got caught up in life.
Speaker A
Life left a mark. Yeah, you know? And the makeup artist says: Wrinkles, I told her to leave them.
Speaker A
Well no, no, my wrinkles are my war wounds, that's my life, you know what I mean?
Speaker A
There's no point being all smooth because, like I was saying, sometimes you cry, sometimes you laugh, sometimes you're pissed off.
Speaker A
All of it, all that is my life. You know? Okay, Daniel Balavoine. Nah, come on, talk about guys who have no depth.
Speaker A
"Sometimes you cry, Sometimes you laugh," that's...No. It's a Kery James song actually: "One day you cry, one day you laugh." Sorry, I only watch Starmania.
Speaker A
That's French ghetto, sorry, we have different references. Everyone has their own references. I'm from the 94th district, that's why...
Speaker A
There we go, he's from the ghetto now. No, but in any case, what I mean by that is that the sacred fire, when you're lucky to always, you know, I keep coming back to childhood, to have this thing that keeps you real.
Speaker A
There's no limit, you know, you guys have bodily limitations, But if this fire, if it's still in you, this desire, like you were saying, to rediscover, to play your cards.
Speaker A
Why stop? Why stop? You're happy, you know. Well, OK, there are contracts, all these things.
Speaker A
But passion, it's like me, I'm finished. That's it for my career. My game between friends is over, but the passion will always be there.
Speaker A
It's not a problem. Very good. I'll finish on that note. Tune in tomorrow for...
Speaker A
To what? Hell, I don't know. According to Thomas. OK, according to Thomas, my choice.
Speaker A
Ushuaïa. Ushuaïa. Well, to cap things off. Thank you everyone. Thank you for the invitation.
Speaker A
We've all had a good time. It was deep. Now I can admit something to Jules.
Speaker A
I wore a sweater, but I'm too hot bro. Oh well, we all have to suffer.
Speaker A
Since the start, I tried to – You have to suffer – I said to Jules, I said I better wear a sweater with a bit of charm, But I'm hot as hell. No big deal, It's not, the seasons do not matter. OK, thanks Jules. Seriously? No.
Speaker A
Because this kid, he's got incredible style, he doesn't care. So if tells me it's OK, that's good. OK, thanks everyone.
Speaker A
Anyway, Thanks guys for the invite, thanks Sébastien, thanks Aurélien. And see you soon for the next episode of The Bridge!
Topics:Ousmane DembéléJules KoundéThomas NgijolThe BridgeFrench national football teamParis Saint-Germainfootball fashionsoccer culturesports interviewFrench football
