It's never a gift and he handled it perfectly. New addition to the French team - with Butez, Restes, Jacquet, Diouf, Da Cunha - Estéban Lepaul, 26, brilliantly succeeded in his appearance in front of the media this Tuesday morning. Clear, concise and also talkative when getting to the heart of the questions, the Rennais appeared smiling, relaxed and even sometimes light-hearted.
Far from the pressure of a man who discovers another dimension and sees himself observed by all the followers. Monday, during the first training session, he even received his first instructions from Zinédine Zidane. With four matches on the program during this international sequence, the former Lyonnais will have the opportunity to show himself.
His memories of the Blues
“For the highlights, it’s going to be pretty simple. I'm not going to tell you about 98 because I wasn't born (April 18, 2000). 2006 are the first memories for me and they are quite painful at the time (defeat in the final against Italy, with a headbutt from Zidane). The 2018 World Cup final that I experienced at Place Bellecour in Lyon and which I celebrated very late. For the slightly more recent adventures, the defeat in the 2022 World Cup final which hurt me a lot. But I would say I'm a child of the 2018 World Cup."
Exchanges with Zidane in training
“As for the first session with the coach, it went very well. He showed that he still had some nice leftovers (smile). What's better than receiving a few balls from Zinédine Zidane for some work in front of goal? It’s a daydream, of course, but I want to be part of this gathering. Everything went very well. What you might consider a bit of stress and pressure quickly goes away. Everything went very well with him. »
His vote for the Ballon d’Or
“All I can hope at this moment is that it is a Frenchman who wins it and that we can celebrate together and that it still reflects that the French are at the top and that we have the best current players in football. »
Now that my father is no longer here, he is my daily driving force and that is what drives me
When did he think it was possible to discover the Blues
“I would say very honestly at the end of the Ligue 1 season last year, finishing top scorer. I told myself that finishing top scorer in one of the five major championships is not given to everyone and it is not something trivial either. So I said to myself: “Why not go and knock on the door of the selection? » Here we are a few months later. »
The importance of his father
“You know, when you had a father (he played at AJ Auxerre) who experienced high-level football, the Champions League, I think that the French team could have been something for him too and he didn't make it, there is something that was passed down between him and me from a very young age. He took over supporting me as much as possible. And in the end, I think things are done well since I lost him in 2020, as you know, but his career ended at the age of 24. And at 24, that’s the age mine started. I think it was a kind of handover and there’s a bit of a story to finish. It’s on track for it to happen the way I want it to. Now that he's no longer here, he's my daily driving force and that's what drives me. This is where all this strength has come from since 2020.”
His discovery of Clairefontaine
“We enjoyed it (convocation). I was with the Stade players, we were on training in Slovenia and we experienced it together. It was incredible, an unforgettable moment in my life. To come back to the arrival as a player, I'm not going to lie, what struck me first was seeing the rooster with two stars. For me, this is the most striking image of my arrival. And what pride to be able to wear this badge with this double world champion title. I discovered Clairefontaine little by little. I don't know everything yet. I went to the wrong floor when I arrived. [laughs] »
“It’s the life I dreamed of when I was little”
Managing recent events
“I experience it quite easily. I'm a very simple person in everyday life, so not much has changed. Usually every year there was something new happening to me. No, I approach it quite easily. I don't change anything at all in my way of being, in my daily way of being, whether at home, in my life outside and at the club. Quite honestly, not a lot of changes. Just great since it’s the life we dreamed of when we were little. I might as well tell you that I'm enjoying it. »
His objectives during this gathering
“The first objectives, already speaking collectively, are to win all four matches. We are going to be honest and that is what will be the leitmotif of the group over these two weeks. And for me, it's going to be about getting playing time, bringing what I can to this team in the playing time that I have. If there is a first goal, that suits me. And if there are several, that’s fine with me too. But no, the main thing will be to bring what I can to the group. And I tend to say that when you work well, you are rewarded. »
Exchanges with Zidane
“We had a first meeting where he introduced us to the staff. We had the field session and a second meeting which lasted 10 minutes, where he presented us with a video of the history of the French team, of all that it can represent, so that there is an awareness of everything it has been able to win, of all the competitions in which it has shone, to talk a little about this heritage which is transmitted, in the end, from generation to generation. We know the importance he attaches to the selection and the French team. It's up to us to play. There will be more later, but in any case represent France in the most beautiful way. »
The importance of the French team for the new generation
“The coach wants to pass on to us this mentality of being fervent defenders of our badge and representing that as best as possible. I repeat it and I think that for everyone who comes to the selection, everyone knows what it represents. There is no player who underestimates this blue jersey. Everyone will wear it loud and proud during the four matches that are to come. I think it was necessary in the sense of trying to imbue something into this new group and with this new staff. »
“I like Kane, Torres and Martinez among the current strikers”
Competition on attack
“We surely have the best in the world in this gaming sector. I want to be a different profile. I love scoring goals, but more and more, I like participating in the game. What's better than being surrounded by players like Désiré (Doué), like Michael (Olise), like Ousmane (Dembélé), like Kylian (Mbappé) to be served and be able to score goals. So, it will also allow me to try more things, to be very liberated because in the end, there is nothing to lose. And then with the quality around, there is enough to be served correctly. I want to learn other things that I don't necessarily have in my game, which are more in the register of these players. »
His refreshing speech
“I said it, I want to be an actor in this selection and even more to be an actor in what will happen afterwards, since after having been summoned once and having tasted it, the only desire I will have is to taste it again and again. The way I operate will not change, whether here or in the club, we will always work as hard. And all I want to do is come back here. So it will give me even more daily motivation to go to work. »
What he would steal from Mbappé and Dembélé
“They are players with extraordinary talents. I will take inspiration from them in the finishing, the movement. To see what they can offer without a ball. We will observe. I think these are players who have technical quality well above the norm. »
His idols in Blues and the attackers who inspire him today
“In Blue, given the generation I am from, it was Kylian and Olivier Giroud. Olivier in a more surface and real goalscorer style. Something that inspires me given his story too, which is quite similar to mine in the end. And in what is happening now, I like what Ferran Torres can do at PSG. I am a big fan of Harry Kane at Bayern. There's a little bit of everything. I like Lautaro (Martinez) at Inter too. There is South American grinta. Harry Kane can do everything and Ferran Torres in the role of a player who can also not score in a match, but do a lot of things for the team. And who is also an excellent finisher. If I have to spread myself over the profiles, it will be the three there. »
