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Nicolas Anelka: "The legend of the bad boy was easy"

2020-08-04T05:28:18.322Z


On the occasion of the broadcast of a documentary dedicated to him, this Wednesday on Netflix, the former enfant terrible of French football has accepted


Nicolas Anelka, 41 years old today, has always cultivated duality. Gifted player and eminently divisive personality. Boiling on the lawns and freezing outside, never lukewarm anyway. His word, even five years after the end of a career that began with a bang at 16 with PSG, is extremely rare.

On the occasion of the release this Wednesday of a documentary by director Franck Nataf "Incomprehended" on Netflix, he nevertheless agreed to give himself up and in particular to speak again about the Knysna crisis in 2010 against the coach of the time. Raymond Domenech. And his words have one merit: to keep him away from a caricature that he never wanted to erase and to draw a richer and more endearing personality than his silences had led him to believe.

Why did you want to participate in a documentary about you on Netflix?

NICOLAS ANELKA . It is a logical continuation of a first film, “ Unclassifiable ”, which told about my career until 2008. It was not to tell “my truth” about South Africa at the 2010 World Cup! There, we wanted to go back to my beginnings in Trappes until my last club, Mumbai City, in India, in 2015. Obviously, I'm talking about Knysna because it's part of my life. But I am not settling my accounts. I tell.

Why this title, “ Incomprehended ”?

Netflix chose it but it suits me. Me, I think we understood the player that I was. On the other hand, the incomprehension was total on my personality. I was different, reserved and even shy. My story is that of a man who refused to be like everyone else in order to be integrated. I never wanted to deny myself to be accepted by the community. But we didn't want to accept my differences.

Which ones?

I couldn't cheat on my personality to fit the mold. My life on and off the pitch, I wanted to run it my way. Staying yourself and staying in this environment was very difficult mentally but I got there.

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How do you explain the contrast between the Anelka described by your teammates and your public image?

(smiles). It's simple. The real Anelka is the one who laughs on the pitch. The other does not exist. I didn't want to talk to the press when I first started playing and agreed to pay the price. Normally, if we tell bullshit about a player, he ends up responding to correct it. I never did. I did not deny anything. It didn't matter to me. I let an Anelka creature tell itself that was not reality. It was a kind of punching bag that took hits without returning them. The legend of the bad boy was easy. Afterwards, it's true that my character prompted me to do certain things that nourished this reputation.

There are headlines that we don't forget, even 10 years later.

Anelka: misunderstood, it's Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/k8NJR2fmcM

- Netflix France (@NetflixFR) August 2, 2020

Like those insults to Raymond Domenech in 2010?

Not at all! What happened that day happened millions of times in a football locker room. Already, when you claim to be a world-class player, you have to have character. What I said that day is: " You just have to 'make her your shitty team' make her your shitty team ". You must also understand that this reaction, very classic in a locker room, was out of a spirit of competition and to rectify certain things. They were locker room words and had to stay there. Not only, they came out but it was not the right ones (Editor's note: the player, who had attacked L'Equipe for defamation was dismissed of his complaint a few months later). Suddenly, it gave the image of an assault when it had nothing to do.

The French federation has asked you to issue a public apology to close the case. Why didn't you do it?

But because it was precisely about the locker room and not public! I agreed to apologize to the group because I had spoken in front of them. But there was nothing public. And I wasn't going to apologize for words I hadn't kept.

Did you understand the sequel and the famous Knysna "strike"?

What I did not understand is that some, years later, say they did not realize they were doing something stupid. I was there when it was decided. No one was forced and everyone knew what it meant.

Do you have a grudge against certain coaches?

(smiles). You think of Raymond (Domenech) eh! I have no resentment and know that before Knysna, we had a really good relationship. And yes ! But I haven't spoken to him since. I hate her a bit when her mother said publicly that she did not accept my "insults". Him, he knew that was not it and should have said it then. A mother's word touches me and there, Raymond should have spoken. But if we ran into each other by chance, I think we could discuss.

Is French football capable today of integrating atypical personalities like yours?

Today, even more, it is necessary to be in a mold and not to make waves. Whoever is different is potentially dangerous.

What is your greatest pride?

My career and my titles (Editor's note: in particular two Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000 and Chelsea in 2012, a European championship title with the Blues in 2000) while, objectively, I cannot say that I have been helped by the press. I'm not complaining because I looked for it too. But going to so many big clubs and winning so much when you have such a reputation, it's tough.

Do you have any regrets?

It would be too easy. I take responsibility for all my choices. They have all been weighed and thought through. Afterwards, when I made a mistake, I assumed.

What advice would you give today to a young person on the threshold of professionalism?

Do your own thing. Don't try to imitate me. My path is not the most obvious. If you really don't want to compromise, follow my path. But be ready.

What would you like those who see your documentary to say to themselves?

Some will like it, others will not. Exactly like my career. I didn't do it to change the look on me. I have no message. My reputation does not interest me. This is my difference.

Are you interested in passing on your experience?

I already do this when I am asked for advice. Young people know my background and it interests them. I like to talk to them. They know my mental strength and question me about it.

Nicolas Anelka returned to PSG in 2000 but only stayed there for a season and a half./Onze/Icon Sport  

Could someone like Kylian Mbappé have something to ask you?

No, he is as strong technically as he is mentally. But I went before him to remove the obstacles. I am one of the first to have gone abroad or to have signed a big transfer (Editor's note: recruited by Real for 35 million euros) . I was also the first to work with my family, with my brothers, at a time when it was frowned upon in the community. Today, it is almost natural. I was a pioneer and the pioneer, it takes hits. But I paved the way. A Mbappé, with all his strength, also benefits from my experience of 20 years ago. And he's right.

How do you see your future?

I am passing my coaching diplomas and I am giving myself a year or two to enter this new role.

To train PSG one day?

(laughs). You should never say never but leading PSG requires experience, a track record and a coaching experience that I do not have.

At the time of #MeToo or #Blacklivesmatter, would you like to speak out so that more diverse players can then access in numbers the positions of coaches and leaders in pro football?

I would like that to change. We must campaign to give the keys to more and more teams to blacks or Arabs but I am not optimistic. We will always make a difference. Moreover, in my vision of coach, I do not imagine myself leading one day in France. I see reality in the face. I am black and I, besides, my name is Anelka ...

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2020-08-04

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