EXCLUSIVE | Frank Leboeuf on Strasbourg’s Champions League chase: “You need to be completely satisfied however nervous in regards to the future.”
1998 World Cup-winning centre-back Frank Leboeuf sat down with Get French Soccer Information to speak about his two former golf equipment linked by a standard proprietor, Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg Alsace.
Strasbourg have been mounting a Champions League push. How stunned are you that the membership are doing this properly?
Large time stunned. To start with of the season, it wasn’t that nice and all of the followers have been very nervous about the truth that BlueCo got here up and adjusted possibly the spirit of the membership. All people must be delighted with the outcomes and the best way the younger lads are enjoying. And on prime of being attention-grabbing and entertaining, they carry on profitable and profitable video games. In fact, I’m delighted. Now, I’m suspicious of the way it’s going to work subsequent season if these gamers which can be so good are leaving the membership as a result of they’ve to affix Chelsea and since Chelsea suppose it’s higher for them to be [in London]. What’s going to occur to Strasbourg? So you must be completely satisfied however on the similar time nervous slightly bit in regards to the future. Thus far, so good.
Which Strasbourg gamers have impressed you probably the most? And which of them do you suppose may depart for Chelsea?
Nicely, after all, the primary identify can be Andrey Santos, due to the season he’s having. It’s only honest to suppose that Chelsea are going to have their eyes on him. I’d say him. What’s going to occur to the goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic? He’s doing nice as properly. There are such a lot of, however Chelsea are going to take a look at it. It’s the objective of what Strasbourg have develop into. So, if these gamers are adequate, they’re going to affix Chelsea. Now you must guarantee that they’re prepared, as a result of it’s one factor to play for Strasbourg, which is type of a household membership, the place the followers don’t count on an excessive amount of from the gamers, and to play for Chelsea the place the expectation is large. [It’s a] totally different degree. The media goes to observe you. Should you make a mistake, in the event you’re a goalkeeper, or in the event you miss a aim as a striker, everyone’s going to say it. Should you do this with Strasbourg, you possibly can keep away from being criticised. It’s not going to occur with Chelsea.
What have been your ideas when Liam Rosenior was appointed as Strasbourg’s head coach? And have they modified in any respect?
I’ve to be honest, I didn’t know him. Nicely, I assumed new concepts, new board, new coach. Let’s see. And I’ve to say, properly achieved, properly achieved. Thus far, he has to talk slightly extra French, however in any other case, every little thing is ideal [laughs]. I like that, it’s good to have Carlo Ancelotti, David Moyes, and even now with Pep Guardiola, these former gamers who’re between 55 to 65 and have these expertise. However you must discover a new technology. And Rosenior appears to be considered one of them. And he has concepts, he has philosophy, and I like coaches who’re cussed however not cussed sufficient to die with their concepts. I’m excited about Enzo Maresca, for instance. In preseason, he was attempting to play a sure method however realised he didn’t have the people for that. He modified his thoughts, and that was nice… Hopefully, he’ll change and return to the extra vertical method of enjoying. However he’s additionally a part of the brand new technology that I’m speaking about. Nevertheless it’s new concepts, new soccer, the tip of tiki taka soccer. I can see a brilliant future for Liam and for the subsequent decade.
What ought to the long run seem like for Strasbourg? Is there a path the place they may problem PSG for the title?
By no means. By no means. I imply, now we have to be trustworthy about that. Cash talks. Paris Saint-Germain are a lot above everyone that they will afford the gamers that make the distinction. We don’t know what’s going to occur to Strasbourg subsequent season as a result of gamers are going to go away; they’re going to should rebuild. We already know what’s going to occur to Paris Saint-Germain. If Ousmane Dembélé leaves Paris Saint-Germain as a result of Metropolis or Chelsea or Actual Madrid need him [laughs], which I doubt. They know they’ve the cash to switch him, which isn’t the case for Strasbourg or every other membership. I’d love [for them to challenge for the title]. Strasbourg, like Chelsea, are my former membership. I like them and wish the perfect for them. However no person is difficult Paris Saint-Germain. Particularly this season. I imply, this group is an actual group. We may have mentioned in any other case the yr earlier than and the yr earlier than [that]. However this season, they’ve discovered a solution to play. They struggle for one another, and so they simply beat the perfect group in Europe: Liverpool. They deserved it. It wasn’t a theft. Strasbourg is nice; they’re fourth within the league [at the time of speaking]. Hopefully, they’re going to qualify for the Champions League. Which goes to be nice for the followers however maybe too early for the membership. It’s going to be an amazing expertise and journey for everyone.
Regardless of success on the pitch, the state of affairs stays fractured within the stands, with followers protesting their house owners, BlueCo, at the beginning of each recreation. Is there any method this example may be resolved?
It’s going to be exhausting as a result of the followers usually are not utterly silly and blind. They know what’s going to occur to the perfect gamers in the event that they’re good for Strasbourg. They’re going to go away, and so they’re going to go to Chelsea. And so we’re going to start out once more. Strasbourg is type of the useful resource membership for Chelsea, and it’s solely honest; they injected cash, and I perceive that, and if the followers are completely satisfied proper now, they’re naturally going to be nervous about what’s going to occur sooner or later. And I’m too. I like what the membership tries to do. Marc Keller, the chairman of Strasbourg, is my pal and my former teammate. I do know he tries to do his finest for the membership. However [the fans] have query marks, and it’s honest for them to have mentioned, ‘We’re nervous, and we don’t need the membership to be a nasty membership.’
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Strasbourg usually are not a nasty membership. Strasbourg are thought-about just like the Marseille of the east aspect of France. With ardour and with a willingness to get every little thing. I had 5 years with Strasbourg, and it was nice. The gang was there, the sensation and fervour of that’s sweating out of the followers. It’s solely honest that [the fans] are involved, and it’s solely honest that now they should be completely satisfied. And they need to be proud of what the membership are doing and the outcomes that they get. However once more, they really feel the query marks are going to be there for the beginning of the season in the event that they see Santos and Petrovic leaving. It’s going to be honest for the followers to be nervous. It’s going to be a tough activity for BlueCo to calm the followers down as a result of it’s nearly not possible with the insurance policies that they’ve.
Frank Leboeuf was talking solely to GFFN on behalf of
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