Promised to a bright future from his childhood in Marseille, Jérémie Boga, 23, was first caught up by the vagaries of early media coverage. He, thus, took side roads, at the option of several loans, before landing and then asserting himself in Sassuolo, opposed this Sunday to AC Milan, leader of Serie A.
Author of 11 goals last season, the Ivorian international winger, passed through all the youth selections in France, admits to having matured, in his life as in his game, to strive for more efficiency. Benefiting from the confidence of his coach, he now gives free rein to his creativity while displaying reasoned ambitions. For twenty minutes, he told himself in all simplicity.
Almost twelve years have passed since you left Marseille for Chelsea. Looking back, do you think you made the right decision by leaving so young?
JÉRÉMIE BOGA. With my family, we made the best choice. I have assumed it from the start. My first two years at Chelsea were very tough. It’s never easy to cut the cord at such a young age, to be far from the city where you grew up and separated from your childhood friends. But I managed to integrate into my new environment. I learned a lot at Chelsea. We are still talking about one of the best training centers in England, and even in the world. We won a lot of titles, especially the Youth League in 2015.
Have you never had the feeling, over the course of your loans, that you got a little lost on the way?
I may not have had the trajectory imagined by some, but I never got lost. Reindeer (Editor’s note: in 2015-2016), for my first season with the pros, I won’t talk about a failure, but rather a good learning. In Brittany, I grew up and matured in my game. In Granada, then in Birmingham from 2016 to 2018, everything did not go in the right direction afterwards. But I have never been overcome by doubts. Even when I encountered difficulties, I always believed in myself.
Newsletter PSG express
Our information on the capital club
—
How did your arrival in Sassuolo, in 2018, mark a turning point in your career?
I found stability and efficiency there. It shows in my performances. To change, each year of country, I had sometimes arrived, a little, to scatter myself. Even if that’s no excuse. There I can get involved in a long-term project and take care of my football. The coach gives me a lot of freedom, he encourages me to have fun on the pitch. It’s good to feel wanted.
How does this translate in the field?
Before I could do nice movements, then fish in the finish. It could, with good reason, be reproached me. From now on, I no longer dribble to impress the gallery. When you are decisive, you are seen differently by your teammates.
Is it flattering to have a coach, Roberto De Zerbi, who recently placed you just behind Lionel Messi in the dribbling category?
How not to be sensitive to it? But I keep my head on my shoulders and my family looks after that too.
You contracted the coronavirus this summer. Some athletes say they have difficulty finding their best level afterwards. Is this your case?
I tested positive for Covid-19 on August 18 and then had to remain in isolation for several weeks. During my first 4 games, I had a feeling of shortness of breath after accelerating. Today I have no physical consequences. It’s all behind me. But I want to say that this virus is not trivial. When we have had it, we know it. We young people sometimes want to go out, to visit friends. But you have to be careful and really respect the barrier gestures. Health comes first.
What can Sassuolo claim this season?
We finished 8th last season (Editor’s note: the club is currently 5th). We are clearly aiming for qualification for the Europa League without setting limits.
Do you ever dream of being bigger?
Of course. I am ambitious. I am only 23 years old. Since I started very early, people forget my age a bit. Since I was little, I aspire, in particular, to participate in the Champions League. I try every day to be a little better than the day before. I go step by step.
Where are you with the Ivorian selection?
I was summoned for the first time in 2017. The rest was a little more chaotic, but everything has normalized. I should have been called at the end of last season before the end of competitions, then again in the fall, during the last two rallies, but I had to give up, each time, for medical reasons.
You were born in Marseille. Could you play it someday?
It’s been a dream since I was little, I’ve always said it. But it’s not an obsession either. If it has to happen one day, I’ll be the happiest. Otherwise, I will remain the first supporter of OM.
What did you think of the reaction of the PSG and Basaksehir players who left the field after the racist insults uttered by the 4th referee at the address of the assistant coach of the Turkish club?
There was an act of solidarity from the players. They said no collectively. Racism has no place in football, or anywhere else. They have shown the way. If such acts were to happen again, we should all adopt the same attitude.
In the past, Matuidi or Balotelli were victims of racist acts in Serie A. You had already been confronted with it?
I did not have this kind of problem. Last season my former partner Alfred Duncan ( Editor’s note: today at Fiorentina ), had suffered insults during a meeting. You have to be mentally strong not to get out of the game. It is perhaps a little more marked in Italy than elsewhere. We must remain united so that these unacceptable actions stop.
–
