Adil Rami (Bleus): "Paul Pogba showed the way" – CM 2018

CM 2018
            

Bleus

Published on Monday, July 16, 2018 at 01:34

Adil Rami paid tribute to his partner Paul Pogba after the triumph of the Blues in the final of the World Cup this Sunday at the expense of Croatia (4-2)

"That's it, you are world champions. Did you expect such a thing?
I've never seen anything like it. I knew that a bit with Seville. After the finals, we sang. But it's hot to see this France team put on some music before a World Cup final. Everyone sang and danced. In the cloakroom, there was concentration. But I do not like to lie, I prefer to keep my speech true: I can tell you that Paul Pogba, I do not know how, I do not know where, but he became a leader. He proved it to us. He showed it. He is a technical player, he has a lot of talent. He knew how to fight defensively. Everyone loves players who make big bridges, small bridges, wrapped. I can tell you that Paul today has become a leader. He showed the way.
        

How?
Everyone is waiting for little bridges and footwork, but football is not that. You sweat, you give your body to science. There are games where you have to put your blue heater. Some have understood him and him in particular. He was the strongman of the France team. Defensively he helped the team. I could talk about everyone but today Paul has shown maturity. The technique is good, but the mind is more important.
        

More generally, how do you explain this exceptional career?
We showed a lot of maturity, despite our youth and carelessness. Before the final, I said to myself: "it's not possible". I have experience but it's too much thinking. The kids there today played an inter-neighborhood tournament. It's not possible ! They were relaxed. They were having fun. They were laughing. There, I told myself to leave like this. We'll see later. It's fate. It's beautiful.
        

"It's better to leave room for young people in the middle of a rush"
                                    

Do you realize what's happening?
It's hard. I am too happy. The hardest thing is to be in a bubble where we did not realize what was happening in France. We send you messages of encouragement or thanks after the semifinal. It sends you a dose of adrenaline and more. That's where you're actually putting pressure.
        

Personally, how did you experience this adventure?
I think I did my job, showed the example, showed what a professional was. In two years, it's the Euro. I will be 35 years old. It is better to leave the place in the middle of the fluff. I have in my heart a club that is OM. I prefer to keep all my juice for OM. Maybe after I change my mind.
        

Have you decided to retire internationally?
That's what I have in mind. I said what I thought about the players.
        

What is the responsibility of Didier Deschamps in this triumph?
The coach gave us a lot of freedom. He was super human, yet he is very hard and very professional. But here he was extraordinary. If today, we have a good atmosphere, it's not thanks to me, to the guys who set the mood, it's thanks to him. It allowed us to be natural.
        

What memory do you have of all this?
What I also appreciated was that we had a connection with the press. We have been criticized by the media. The French depend on you, what you say, but over time, we were able to show you that we were humans. It's good to be able to discuss like that. So stop your bullshit, stop criticizing us, because we love France, like you. Today, we are world champions and so are you. "
        

H.S., In Moscow