Patras (Greece) (AFP)
Renaming Wendie Renard captain of the Blues, four years after having removed the armband, is a "strong act" for Corinne Deacon, a coach anxious to "look forward and not in the retro", she explained Thursday since Patras to the media present, including AFP.
Q: Here you are in Greece to start your World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday ...
A: "I first have an announcement for you. The captain of the France team from tomorrow until the Euro will be Wendie (Renard)."
Q: So it's a return to a former captaincy ...
A: "We continue our march forward. This is something that we have matured for a long time with my two assistants Anthony (Grech-Angelini) and Gilles (Fouache). We think first of all of the general interest, of the The team. This news was announced and accepted by everyone in a top way. The vice-captains first (Torrent, Bilbault, Tounkara, editor's note) then by everyone. We continue our march forward. "
Q: How did you break the news to him?
A: "We saw each other on Monday, I proposed to her. Then, she took a little time to think about it which was not very long. It's pretty good. We exchanged, we had a very good discussion. well, very calm. I don't know how to say… natural. "
Q: Why did you change your mind about her after taking her armband off shortly after you arrived in 2017?
A: "All the little things I told her about why I took away from her no longer exist. Today, she is in her role. She is a cadre. She has not even changed her attitude. when she didn't have the armband. Above all, her performances are very good today. That makes her a legitimate player vis-à-vis the group, myself, and my assistants. Wendie's performances since I arrived at the head of the France team are good, they are even better since when you get older, you necessarily have a little more physical problems which is not necessarily the case. She has always had performances. in the French team on which there is nothing to complain about, it has this legitimacy with the group.And then there is my desire to put an act behind my words. At the start of each internship, we say that we are looking forward and not in the retro. It was the opportunity to put a strong act in front of words and lyrics that we have had for a while. "
Defender Wendie Renard with Bleues coach Corinne Deacon after the World Cup match against the United States in Paris, June 28, 2019 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives
Q: How did she react?
A: "I will keep the discussion between her and me, it belongs to us. But I can assure you that the exchange was very cordial. Very respectful. For me, it is already a good basis. We start on something else. , it will take us a little bit of time in spite of everything, for her, for me, for us, for the group. But we have this time, since we have ten months to prepare for the Euro. I can you make sure it was something very constructive. An honest, respectful discussion. "
Q: Renard is a fierce fighter, she has a habit of lifting trophies.
Did you need to spread this message even more within the group?
A: "Not just that. Wendie was a captain with my predecessors and that didn't work for all that. But anyway today Wendie is legitimate, that's what matters. The news has been announced and especially accepted by the girls in a fluid and limpid way. We have a group which lives well today and which I hope will live even better tomorrow. We have this objective together, we have a group which is reaching maturity, this amalgam with the youth who are very positive. I also asked them to take some responsibilities on group life off the field. "
Wendie Renard with the France team against the United States in the World Cup, June 28, 2019 at the Parc des Princes FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives
Q: Did you have this discussion with the president of the Federation Noël Le Graët, who came to Clairefontaine on Tuesday?
A: "He was not in the secret, I just told him on Tuesday that I had made the move. He was of course very satisfied, and I called him back afterwards to give him Wendie's answer. he was doubly happy! ".
© 2021 AFP