A night tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the issues of the encounter, wondering how to give the best of yourself.
And then, the next day, the countdown of the seconds in the headset and the thrill of kick-off.
Loïc Rémy
, former Blues striker, now puts his technical skills to good use in the commentary box.
Six months after his aborted experience at Brest, which marked the end of his career, the 37-year-old international became a consultant for Coupe de France matches on the Trois.
“For me who, as a player, have been under a form of constant pressure, this new challenge can only be stimulating
,” he assures.
He takes over from Djibril Cissé, consultant for the 2023 edition.
To discover
TV tonight: our selection of the day
Baptism of fire with microphones
The idea of this transfer from the field to television is not his.
But from Fabien Lévêque, the France Télévisions commentator, who admired his CV and liked the
player's
“beautiful spirit” on the pitch.
He finds him, he says, in the cabin:
“The high-level athlete that he is seeks to understand, to progress.
»
The exercise is less obvious than it seems.
We must deliver rapid and synthetic decryptions.
“Ask the right words at the right time”
, summarizes Loïc Rémy, who until now did not watch matches to
“cut away”
when he returned home.
He now stands in front of his television to listen to his colleagues and take notes on the teams.
“The role of the consultant is to analyze what I do not necessarily see as a commentator
,” notes Fabien Lévêque.
In terms of placements or tactics.
My mission is to spice up the match, to bring the story to life.
»
Two training sessions were organized with Rémy before the baptism of fire at the end of January.
It was the Lens-Monaco match, in the round of 32 of this unique competition, open to all clubs, even amateurs.
“The Cup has a lot of charm.
Everyone defends their coat of arms, on sometimes not easy terrain
,” enthuses the consultant.
Sometimes when I watch games I think, “I could have been there…”
Loïc Rémy
Little Thumb of this edition, AS Saint-Priest thus went as far as the round of 16, where it came up against Valenciennes.
“There are perhaps fewer unexpected epics this year, but it also shows that the big clubs really want this cup,” analyzes Fabien Lévêque.
On March 13, they will comment together on the last quarter-final, PSG-OGC Nice, on France 3 at 9:10 p.m. Paris, which has not won in three years, risks showing its teeth.
" I realized my dream "
Many of the teams that take to the field, Loïc Rémy knows them from having faced them –
“But I remain objective in my comments!
»
.
The thirty-year-old started at Olympique Lyonnais and continued at OGC Nice, where his career accelerated with a first selection for the French team, at the age of 22.
We then saw him at OM, at Chelsea for two seasons, in Lille and in Turkey.
His injuries forced him to end his career.
“I would have liked to continue.
It was the body that no longer wanted to follow.
Sometimes, when I watch matches, I say to myself: “I could have been there…” I think we never really mourn
,” he says.
Before moving on:
“Looking back, I realize how lucky I was.
I realized my dream.
»
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Today, the Martinican trains young players in Lyon –
“by telling them to make the most of these years”
– and, when he is not warming up his voice for the next Cup match, he is thinking about passing the coaching diploma.
His consultant contract must end at the end of the final, on May 25.
But Loïc Rémy confides, he has taken a liking to this exercise, which allows him to keep one foot on the ground:
“If I am needed in the future, I will be there.
»