Mathieu Debuchy : “We discuss a little bit of everything. We can talk about the challenges we have set ourselves during the season, pre-match away games, greens, rest days … This allows the coach to talk to some players to take the temperature with the changing rooms. and to have relays.
On the one hand we have older players – I don’t mean old because I don’t like that word – with a lot of experience, then young players who come mostly from the academy. It is true that it shot quite well and created a homogeneous whole that runs well.
His role with young people
They are available to all young people: those who want to discuss and those who ask for advice. They are also there to supervise them on a daily basis. Of course, my first role is to do my work on the pitch and in training, but it is true that I also have this role with the group, to bring my experience and listen to every request.
This can be during training, warm-up or even during a game. I can discuss with some about how to approach matches, with others about placements or about various things that can happen during the week. They are young people who are talented, but who are also attentive, which is why we have managed to create a good group. Inevitably, they still have to progress and learn, but they have the right mindset. It is the most important.
“I want to stabilize on the axis”
Central defender? It is a completely different position. We are behind, we have a peripheral vision of the whole team. The efforts are less intense, but you have to be more vigilant because you are the penultimate bulwark being at full capacity. It is a position in which I had evolved very little in my career so far, so even at my age we had to find automatisms. Later it was I who at some point wanted to reposition myself on the axis, and I am satisfied with it.
Yes. This is a position where it is important to communicate with partners. In addition, as a captain and with my experience, I must know how to fill this role. You need to know how to help your teammates manage spaces, especially between the lines, but also know how to manage the players behind our defensive midfielders and also communicate with your team. It really is a position where you need to be even more vigilant.
I have this desire to stabilize myself in the axis to discover something else. Also because of my age, you have to know how to evolve and change.
Soon the end of the career?
My passion for the ball is still there. It is what has guided me since my childhood. When I had the opportunity to return to the region and sign for Valenciennes, after many discussions with the president, I found a structured club. Today I still want to keep playing ball and have fun. Pleasure is what drives me every day.
I still have that adrenaline that is important for a sportsman in me. I keep this desire to go to train, to play games… So, as long as I have this flame and my body follows, I don’t want to say enough. After that, I don’t know until what age I will continue. I will arrive at the end of the contract, so there will be a reflection like every year then I will decide on the sly.
Inevitably, I will stay in the middle of football. I want to find out certain things. The formation of young people attracts me but I don’t have a fixed idea yet. I stay open, watch, listen and then I will make a decision on this in due course. If he’s not in training, he may be on recruiting or in a position a little further away from the field. Trainer? Why not. Honestly, I haven’t made my choice yet.
🤝 His role with young people
🆕 Its repositioning in the axis
🥰 His intact passion for football
🌟 The nuggets of @VAFC
🔜 After career© ️ The captain of 𝗩𝗔, @MatDebuchy (37 years old) confides 💬:
– Ligue 2 BKT (@ Ligue2BKT) November 2, 2022
