Adil Aouchiche: "I have no regrets about leaving PSG"

Twenty-one starts, two goals, five assists… Adil Aouchiche was already convinced that he had made the right choice, the statistics only reinforced his idea.

Almost a year after leaving PSG, his training club, the former Titi flourished in Saint-Etienne.

Eleventh in Ligue 1 with the Greens, the young 18-year-old midfielder has agreed to take stock of his first real professional season and to come back, in all sincerity, on his departure from Paris Saint-Germain and on the links that he talks with the club of the capital.

At the time of class advice, what assessment would appear on pupil Aouchiche's report card at the end of his first year at Saint-Etienne?

ADIL AOUCHICHE.

(He laughs)

So, I'm going to put myself in the shoes of a teacher and talk about myself in the third person… Let's say that I would give the encouragement to this student to push him to go get the congratulations next season.

More seriously, in terms of learning, experience, the trust I have been given, I have had a very positive season.

We went through a lot of difficult times and living that at 18 made me grow.

I needed it.

I would have liked to do better, to have more statistics.

I work a lot, they want to help me improve, the staff are behind me… I played a lot, it's wonderful.

I feel like I've made a lot of progress.

You left to have some play time. Did you find what you were looking for?

That's exactly it: I found what I was looking for.

I found the club, the team, the coach I needed, who had a project for me.

I am here to play and to gain experience.

Today, I am very proud and very happy to have this.

I hope I will do more.

You were a little tender, again, to make room for PSG.

Is it easier to break into Saint-Etienne?

Of course, we must not hide it: PSG plays in the Champions League, has high demands, a workforce of stars… It is a club that is under constant pressure.

When a coach arrives, he has to win all of his matches.

I'm not saying that PSG don't trust young people, but the competition is very tough there.

For a youngster, winning at PSG takes time.

Everyone is free to take it or not.

I made the choice to go to Saint-Etienne because, while taking my time, I could get what I wanted faster.

PSG is a very good team to progress, but given the quality of the workforce, it is very difficult to win.

Paris is one of the big clubs in Europe.

Do you understand how surprised it was to see you go?

Yes, of course, I understand, I am a child from Paris.

I was born there, I grew up there, did all my training and even my professional debut there… Almost everyone expected me to stay.

But you have to take into account the feelings of the player, the place where he will flourish the most… When you become a pro, it's to play, live matches, live in a group… I had this desire, I felt the strength, the capabilities.

So when the beautiful Saint-Étienne project hit me, I thought about it.

And when I made up my mind, I went straight ahead, without asking myself any questions.

Why can't Paris keep its young people?

Because the best players of each generation are all followed and in great demand. When you grow up at PSG, we all want to play with the first team quite quickly. But it's complicated for PSG, which has several stars to play and little playing time to give to young people. Those he keeps, like Kimpembe or Rabiot, win because they took the necessary time, grew up with very great players and gained a lot of experience at PSG. But everyone knows what's best for them. You don't have to stay to stay, or leave to go ... You have to ask yourself and wonder about what you really want. If you want to stay at PSG and impose yourself there, why not. But when you come from the training of PSG, given the number of external requests, a departure is also an option.

One year later, are you still convinced that you made the right choice?

Yes, I have no regrets about leaving Paris.

I have played a lot for my age.

I'm making a lot more progress here in areas I needed to improve.

I am in a club which, unlike PSG, does not go through its matches in an armchair.

Here, it's a little harder, each ball is important, you have to know how to keep it, learn to be hard on contact, gain muscle ... I'm not saying that this is not the case in Paris, but in Saint -Etienne, you have to acquire it quickly to play.

Paris is a possession team, they can afford to miss three, four chances in a row.

Here, each ball is expensive, it can win us a match or play tricks on us if we lose it.

These are very positive points in my construction.

In 2020, Adil Aouchiche scored PSG's first goal in a Cup match against Linas-Montlhéry.

Icon Sport / Dave Winter

You were almost recruited like a star when you only had 65 minutes in L1 and two Cup games in your legs.

How do you deal with this paradox when you arrive in a new locker room?

You have to keep your head on your shoulders, not stay in your corner, nor arrive with a big head.

The key is to be yourself, actually.

But I didn't have too many apprehensions about that.

I think I'm a good teammate, I have a character that allows me to integrate quickly into a group.

Affinities were created very quickly, in just a few days I was integrated into the collective and the club.

Did you continue to follow the results of the PSG?

Yes, of course, I watch PSG and the former teammates.

With some, we send each other messages, we call each other from time to time and, with the young people, we have seen each other on days off in Paris.

Sometimes I spoke with Kylian, with Presnel, even with Leo Paredes… It's important to keep this link with the old teammates.

How do you see the PSG season?

The season was a bit complicated in Ligue 1, because they left a lot of points.

But the competition was tough, especially because of Lille, which had a very, very good year.

To be first in front of Paris, you have to do it.

But overall, PSG had a good season, like its matches in the Champions League.

Again, it didn't go far.

But PSG will not let go, this Champions League, they want it and in time, they will have it.

They have the weapons to take it down.

Were you blown away by Kylian Mbappé's performances?

How strong is friend Kylian!

I'm happy for him.

But, frankly, he didn't wow me because I know what he's capable of.

It is a phenomenon, a future Ballon d'Or.

On the other hand, we must stop saying that he is a future great player.

Kylian is the present!

He is only 22 years old, but it is now that he is one of the greatest players in the world, by his performances, his statistics and his mentality.

He never gives up, wants to win everything.

Kylian is a big inspiration for a player like me.

He stays himself, works a lot and goes looking for his dreams.

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What memories will you keep of your Parisian years?

My years in Paris have been extraordinary.

I grew up and became a man at PSG.

The club made me progress, it is a magnificent training center.

Pro, even if the Covid blocked us, I lived very beautiful things, it was an incredible experience.

I am very grateful to coach Tuchel, who made me start in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

He gave me playing time. I wanted more, of course.

But I can't thank him enough for putting my foot in the stirrup.

These are moments that we do not forget.

Were you surprised at his dismissal this winter?

Yes, I was a little surprised, because he did great things at PSG, he took the team to the final, came close to winning… But we know how football works… He shows today hui with Chelsea he's a great coach, I'm happy for him.