“I feel a little English”, admits José Fonte before Chelsea – Lille

• Every Monday,

  20 Minutes

   gives the floor to a sports actor or actress who is making the news of the moment.

  This week, place for the Portuguese defender Jose Fonte.

• The captain of Losc will have a lot of work on Tuesday evening in the knockout stages of the Champions League at Chelsea.

• The European champion recounts his attachment to the city of London, where his wife and children live, and looks back on his four wonderful years in the North.

The weight of the years does not seem to have taken hold of him.

At 38, José Fonte has never seemed so strong.

His arrival in the North four years ago even coincides with the rise of Losc.

Surprise French champion last season, the northern club is preparing to play in the second round of 16 of the Champions League in its history.

Tuesday, on the lawn of Stamford Bridge, it will even be a great first at this level for the Portuguese defender who had never gone so far in the competition.

Wink of the story, it will take place in London, where his wife and children live year-round.

As he comes to the end of his contract at the end of the season, the European champion confided in

 on the shock to come against Chelsea but also his good years in Lille, his life in London without forgetting his little-known passion for football. 'space.

Is this match against Chelsea the most important of your career at Lille?

No, the most important thing was the last game of last season in Angers when we won the title.

This meeting against Chelsea is obviously an important match in an important competition but it is not the final.

Afterwards, it was our objective and we are happy to be there.

But we have the ambition to always do more so we will try to prepare well for this incredible match to play.

Is the fact that almost no one believes in your chances an additional motivation?

Surely there are people who think we have no chance so we have zero pressure.

But afterwards, every Losc player and everyone who works at the club knows that we have quality, that we have the players and the professionals to do something.

We didn't become champions of France by chance.

We are a good team.

We have good players, good coaches.

We will have something to say in this game.

It will be a very very difficult match but we will prepare well with our game plan to get a result.

For us, it is above all a great opportunity to write history in Lille.

To pass, you will have to defend well but you are less good in this area than last season.

Why ?

It's very easy.

We lost the best goalkeeper in the French championship (Mike Maignan).

It's hard to replace him.

We also had other important changes.

But we are aware of the importance of having clean sheets, of being solid, of being compact.

We work every day to find this solidity.

What do you think of Chelsea?

It's a top-level team with a top-level coach, with players who have won everything and who all play for their national team.

They are fighting for all the titles, it is a very dangerous team.

For us, it's a very good game to play.

We believe in ourselves and we have the confidence to achieve a positive result.

I repeat, there is no pressure.

Would eliminating Chelsea be stronger than beating France in the Euro final?

Sorry but no.

If you tell me that Lille wins the Champions League against anyone in the final, maybe we can say that it's stronger than the Euro.

But winning this first title with Portugal in France against France is something special for all Portuguese people.

It is enormous.

You played ten years in England, and you've been in France for four years.

What are the differences between the two leagues?

The atmosphere and intensity of the Premier League is higher.

English clubs also have more money to buy big players.

And the supporters transmit an intensity in the matches which often makes the difference.

In France, we also have a very competitive league.

PSG stands out a bit because of its financial capabilities.

For the rest, it's an interesting championship because everyone can beat everyone.

Which strikers have impressed you the most in the Premier League?

There have been many.

Rooney, Suarez, Van Persie, Ibrahimovic, Drogba, Anelka, Lukaku… We can continue until tomorrow (laughs).

That's what makes the difference.

In the Premier League, all teams have top strikers.

Which English teams do you like to watch?

I like watching Guardiola's teams at Manchester City.

And also the Liverpool of the last three, four years with Klopp.

And then of course there are Southampton, West Ham and Crystal Palace because I played there.

I watch their results more carefully.

Since you have been in Lille, your family has remained living in London.

Playing at Chelsea is a bit like playing at home?

No.

It is not the same.

Besides, it's not sure that I see my family because the match against Chelsea is played late and the children have school the next day.

We're going to leave quickly after the match so I probably won't have time to see them;

Do you feel a little English despite everything?

Yes.

I'm a little English of course.

My children were born and live in England.

My wife is English.

I spent ten years there and I adapted very well.

But Portugal is still my home.

What do you like about London?

London is a city where you can do a lot of things, where there is a real quality of life.

There are good restaurants, theatres, good schools.

The choice is wide.

With my children and my wife, we try to find places where we can see shows.

We like to eat in restaurants like Milos or Zuma, we also like going to see mime shows.

We love to shop at Harrod's or other places.

More broadly, I also like the tranquility I have when I'm there.

It is very pleasant

How do you manage your family life in London with your life as a footballer in Lille?

Before the Covid, there was no problem.

There were a lot of trains, opportunities to go home by Eurostar.

But with the Covid, it became more difficult and everything got a little complicated.

Fortunately, the president and the coach make things easier for me.

When I return to London, they give me a little more freedom because the family side remains the most important.

We do our best to find the best balance.

.

Why did your family never join you in Lille?

My boy is in a school that we have chosen for him and that he really likes.

We're not going to mess that up.

There are times in your life when you have to choose the best for your children and that's what we did.

At the end of your career, would you like to live in London, Lisbon or between the two cities?

I have no preference.

I can live anywhere.

I am a man of the world.

I went to play in China, in France, in England… I have roots everywhere.

If I have health and my family, I'm fine.

Afterwards, when my career is over, I think we will live between England and Portugal.

At 38, you are still physically on top.

How do you do ?

I had good examples in my career.

I had the opportunity to learn and do a lot of research also on recovery, food.

Today, just with your phone, you can get information very easily on the best way to stay in shape.

I have always been attentive to the physical and mental aspect, to nutrition, before and after training.

After that it is a little related to genetics.

Fortunately, I haven't had many injuries in my career.

It plays a lot too.

And then, above all, you have to be a pro by doing your gym and your recovery every day.

For example, I go to bed every day between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

There is no miraculous secret, it is just work.

Do you ever shy away?

Of course yes.

There are days when I can afford a little gap after a good game, after a good victory.

You have to live too!

It is important for the mental aspect.

What do you like besides football?

I love Formula 1. My grandfather watches all the Grands Prix.

And from the age of 8-9, I started watching them with him.

Afterwards, my father gave me the opportunity to go karting, which I really enjoyed.

And I like a lot of F1 drivers: Ricciardo, Alonso, Hamilton, Verstappen, or Norris.

In this sport, you have 20 top-level pilots.

They take a lot of risks.

I also like the atmosphere, the sound of the engines.

I've already seen Grand Prix live, it's just incredible.

I also really appreciate the NBA with a preference for the teams where Lebron James plays, of which I am a fan.

.

Apparently, you also have a passion for the cosmos…

Yes.

I would like to know if there is life on other planets, other galaxies.

I would like to know if we will one day be able to visit other planets. I watch programs every day.

I put on YouTube and I watch the universe, the cosmos or lately James Webb's telescope.

It fascinates me.

I like to watch it at night, it calms me down a lot.

I find it exciting and amazing.

You also like music very much.

What are your tastes?

I listen to everything.

I like everything.

I love music.

My tastes evolve according to my mood, the situation of the club.

I like rock, house music, hip-hop, classical.

And my favorite artists are Kings of Leon, Artic Monkeys, DJ Black Coffee, Kendrick Lamar, Drake or even Kanye West…

As captain, do you decide on the music in the locker room?

No, it is shared by all.

But if I want to listen to something, I put it on and it's over (laughs).

Exactly, what does the captain's armband mean to you?

It is an honor to represent Losc and to be chosen as captain by the coaches.

It often happens when you are a little more experienced.

I arrived in Lille at 34, and I had already had the armband at Southampton for several seasons.

It's normal for me to do this job.

It's a great responsibility.

I try to lead by example and be professional.

I speak when I need to speak, but my role is above all to empower everyone.

That's the only way you can win.

You've been at Losc for four years, what do you like here?

All.

The fans and the people who work at the club make me feel good.

They appreciate my qualities.

And then, we performed well and won titles.

When you win, it's always easier.

There is a pleasant atmosphere and a club spirit at the top.

That's what I like.

It's always difficult to find that in a club.

So when you have that, you have to enjoy it as long as possible.

A title of champion of France, a round of 16 of the Champions League on the horizon.

What do you think of these four seasons spent at Lille?

I tell myself that it was a good decision to sign at Losc.

It's amazing what we've done in the last four seasons.

When you think the team was 17th in Ligue 1 in May 2018. It shows the quality of everyone at the club.

I think it's good to extend, to stay when you find a club like that.

Losc gave me my first national title in a club.

It means a lot to me.

It's a part of my life.

I will never forget my four years here.

These are arguably the most important four years of my career.

These are beautiful moments that I will never forget.

Sport

Losc-PSG: "Perfect timing" for Lille to have a sold-out match

Sport

Losc: A pair of sneakers created in the colors of the Lille club

• chelsea

• Champions League

• Soccer

• LOSC

• Lille

• Sport

• 0 comment

• 0 share

  • Share on Messenger

  • Share on Facebook

  • Share on Twitter

  • Share on Flipboard

  • Share on Pinterest

  • Share on Linkedin

  • Send by Mail

• To safeguard

• A fault ?

• To print