Coach, we often hear this expression in France: ‘Love lasts three years.’ That’s often true for coaches as well, but not in your case!
“I hope that’s not true, that love doesn’t last just three years! This is the first time in my coaching career that this relationship has lasted so long. It’s not easy to stay at a club for two, three or four years. You’re constantly switched on, always preoccupied with preparing the team and everything that’s important to them. I remember there are times when I try to take a step back, to reflect, but it’s difficult. You win a match and, ten minutes later, you’re already thinking about the next opponent, about their strengths and weaknesses.
"When the opponent is very strong, it’s an extra source of motivation. But there’s always the fear of losing, of not performing well. That’s what’s difficult for me to manage as a coach, and that’s why it’s tricky to stay in one place for a long time. But Paris is different; Paris is special. What we’ve experienced here right from the very start has been very special to me. That’s why we’re carrying on, why we’re striving to improve."
So it was a combination of human, sporting and personal factors that convinced you to stay?
“Absolutely. There’s the trust of the Club, the chairmen and Luis Campos. The connection with Luis Campos, right from the very start, has been very special. It’s a wonderful relationship. We’re all in this together; we’re striving to improve even further, to enjoy what we do and to make our supporters happy. Ultimately, that’s the most important motivation.”
When you first arrived at the club, you already spoke of the importance of trust in being able to work with peace of mind. Looking back, what enabled you to forge that connection in Paris?
“It is precisely that trust that allows me to work as a manager. I remember something I said when I was in charge of the Spanish national team. I don’t know what the result will be and after several years coaching I know we’re going to lose matches. We might lose a game, or fail to qualify for a World Cup or a European Championship, by playing this way. But I’m fully convinced that this style of play is the best way to win. But, I don’t always manage to establish that connection."
