- The 28th day of Liga, which began Thursday evening with the victory of Sevilla FC against Betis in the Andalusian derby, continues this weekend, with in particular the match of Real Sociedad, surprising 4th of the championship, against Osasuna.
- Within the club of San Sebastian, the French Robin Le Normand, holder in central defense, is revealing himself.
- Not kept by Brest in 2016, brought by Eric Olhats to the Basque Country where he finished his training before hatching, he tells his atypical journey (and strangely similar to that of Griezmann) in "20 Minutes".
It is the little French who goes up to Liga. Robin Le Normand, not kept by Brest in 2016 after having made an appearance in Ligue 2, crossed the stages one by one at Real Sociedad. At 23 and after a dozen meetings last season in the first team, he settled with authority since last summer, playing 21 games out of 27 with the current 4th in the championship. The central defender, passed under the radars of French clubs and brought into the Basque club by Eric Olhats, follows in the footsteps of Antoine Griezmann.
How far will he go? Didier Deschamps recently asked Olhats who this young player was "who emerged as a Formula 1", as the recruiter told Radio Marca. The person, who has just extended his contract until 2024, is not there yet. He tells 20 minutes of his tortuous journey and how he sees the rest, while the La Liga restarts for him Sunday evening, against Osasuna.
✍ OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE @ln_robin, until 2024 💙 # LeNormand2024 #AurreraReala
- Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadFR) June 4, 2020What does this extension of contract represent to you?
It's an important step. Since Brest, I have traveled a particular, atypical path. I had a lot of hopes there, and when they didn't keep me, it was very hard. I was lucky to come across Eric Olhats who relieved me, because I was at the bottom of the hole. He did not stop at this failure, he allowed me to believe in a championship which is extremely difficult. Besides, this is a real subject for reflection. Eric saved me, and I'm not the first on the list. There are many players in this case, who then went pro, like Giovanni Sio, KĂ©vin Rodrigues, Liassine Cadamuro ... And what about Antoine Griezmann, who was on the verge of not going professional. Like them, I am somehow a miracle worker. I really thank Eric. I was lucky to come across him, but others did not get it and got through it. It gives food for thought.
About how the French training centers make their selection, you mean?
I have no answer to that, I just make this observation. You realize that we are very much in this case. But I have no resentment towards Brest, I would not change anything in my career. It is simply a misunderstanding when faced with these situations.
Your journey is very similar to that of Griezmann. Have you been able to chat with him, do you often get talked to about him here?
No, I did not have the opportunity. It's still a person who marked the club, that's for sure. I hope to do it too.
How was your arrival in Spain? Did you feel better considered?
There was a big time to adapt, already, especially on the philosophy of play. Eric had warned me, he had told me: "In France we play more so as not to lose, in Spain it is to win " The overall mindset is a little different.
Tell us about your evolution within the club, from the reserve team?
The first year was very difficult. Again, luckily Eric was there to keep my head above water. There was the language, the style of play, etc. We had to assimilate all of this. I still played 25 games, but I found it hard to be consistent. And then little by little I got my bearings, my second season was much better and I was able to start training with the first team. Then I started there, and that's it.
You appeared last season in the first team, now you are a regular member. Do you feel settled, confident?
I never doubted myself. Sure, I have a lot more playing time this season, I feel comfortable with the team currently. The coach put us all on an equal footing at the start of the season. Some players had more experience, but nothing was frozen and I never focused on the others. I have always worked very hard, and I continue to do so. Now is not the time to relax. Today, there is mutual trust with the club.
You faced Real, Barça ... What does it do?
Inevitably, these are matches that everyone is waiting for, which always generate a huge atmosphere. It's the very, very high level. All the players are ... (he searches for his word) ... good (he laughs) . I tried to take these matches like the others, because frankly the championship is very homogeneous. All the attackers I meet force me to be at 100% of my abilities. But it is true that these are special matches, with enormous fervor.
Is there some kind of awareness of the road traveled, anyway, when playing such teams?
A little, but I don't take it as an outcome either. It's good, I worked a lot to live these moments, but now you just have to be there, play, give everything for the team. That’s what matters.
You are one of the revelations of the year in La Liga, how do you live this media attention which increases, necessarily?
It is part of our profession. I try to stay focused on my work, because that's what got me there and nothing else. I made sacrifices, I repeated endless exercises… I don't focus on it but on what I can control. You have to know how to leave it all a little aside.
#DATAZO | Teniendo en cuenta los jugadores que han disputado 15 o más partidos, @ln_robin es el QUINTO CENTRAL FRANCÉS 🇫🇷 que más balones aéreos gana con ÉXITO de las GRANDES LIGAS EUROPEAS (3.2) y es el PRIMERO de la lista teniendo en cuenta sólo #LaLiga
PD: Messi's carita pic.twitter.com/68i5qWtNjM
We know you very little in France. How would you describe the type of advocate you are?
I think I am an athletic player, performing well in duels. I still need to work in all areas, obviously, but in my position I am serious, applied, rigorous. In the recovery, I am good too. The team is playing, and the fact that I was involved in the offensive animation was the first thing I was taught here. We work on patterns in training, how to find free players, always with the best possible use of the ball in mind.
La Liga resumes this weekend. In what state of mind are you, happy or a little fearful in front of this particular context?
No, I can't wait for it to resume. We have been preparing very hard for a month for this, so now we want to go. It will be in a particular context, for sure, but that's how it is. And if it's more prudent without an audience, it's better for everyone. After, for us players, it will be very demanding with the sequences of matches.
You were on a super dynamic with your team before the confinement…
Yes, and we want to resume this season where we left it, play the same way and achieve the goals we have set. We will do everything to qualify for the Champions League. It's a great motivation, we have the means to do it. There are still a lot of matches, but we will do everything to be there for sure. And then we hope to win the King's Cup when we can play it.
Messi, Benz ', HBA ... Everything you need to know about La Liga before the resumption via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/83NJlv2uQT
- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) June 11, 2020Wasn't containment too hard to deal with, mentally?
It was a very special situation. It was difficult because I was far from my family, but I have nothing to complain about. I remain a privileged person, no one has been infected in my entourage. We must especially thank all the people who did not stay at home to help others. Personally, from the start I continued to keep myself in shape. I stayed focused on what I could control, which is to stay physically fit.
Were you particularly prepared for the context, with the health protocol and playing without an audience?
It's true that it's going to be very different from anything we've known before. But that's how it is, we have no choice but to adapt. We haven't heard too much about all this. Public or not, matches will count the same way.
What are your future ambitions? Do you have specific goals for your career?
I have not set any particular goals, any limits. My only goal is to continue to progress, to learn everything I can. The most important thing is to get up every morning and tell yourself that we are going to improve. This is my guiding idea. Afterwards, we can dream of everything. Like everyone, I dream of the France team, lots of things, but all this can only come with work. Never let go, never.
You were talking about the France team, isn't it harder to reach for players like you, who were not known in France before leaving?
No, not particularly. It will always be according to our performance, and then the choice of those responsible. We put all the desire we have to achieve our dreams, that's all we can do. Success will not only depend on work.
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