France (U20) won the Tournament called Maurice-Revello for the first time since 2015, this Sunday. In its ranks, a young man for whom the fairy tale continues. At the end of a first season in Ligue 1, which he was not necessarily thinking of a few weeks before starting it, Maxime Estève thus scored a first line on his list. And not least. Along with the Coupe Gambardella, the Toulon Festival is one of the competitions that you dream of lifting when you are a young footballer.
Holder throughout the competitionon the left in a four-man defense or axis-left in a three-man defense, the solid young man of 1m93 caught the eye of those who did not know him yet, and confirmed all the good that Paillade and French football already thought of him.
The Blues had started timidly with a defeat on penalties against the Panama (0-0; 2-4), before raising their heads in the group stage againstSaudi Arabia (5-0) and theArgentina (6-2). They then swept the Mexico (4-1) before winning in the final against a Venezuelan selection made up of several professional players (2-1).
Four questions to Maxime Estève – At the microphone of B.Queneutte
Have you achieved a new dream?
Frankly, it’s wonderful. Only good memories with the guys: a great team, a good atmosphere, a great group. It’s ending the season on a high note, I will remember it all my life. This makes it possible to establish links with certain players, in other clubs. And I will remember winning the tournament with those players.
An almost full first season in Ligue 1 and this trophy at stake: the fairy tale continues?
A year ago, I didn’t imagine myself doing so much this year. On a personal level, but also collectively in selection and with Montpellier, because you shouldn’t throw everything away, it’s still a magnificent season for me. Frankly, it will be one of the most beautiful, also because it is the first. For a first season, there is worse, anyway!
What image will you remember?
Lifting the trophy, of course! It’s the culmination of a lot of things, three weeks where you see your friends feasting (on vacation, editor’s note) while you are there to work and make sacrifices. But these are great sacrifices to make. And yes, it’s the culmination of three weeks of work, and even a year, because it’s a group we’ve had since the start of the season. What I remember the most is lifting the trophy together.
When you are a young international, the Toulon Tournament is a goal?
The coach had focused on this tournament since the start of the season, telling us that we were the generation of the next Olympic Games. It makes an impression to know that the 2002 generation, the U20s, won the tournament to the detriment of a lot of beautiful nations. And that gives ambition for that date (…) The Olympic Games in Paris, it’s incredible! In France, in front of your country. It rarely happens. It’s an opportunity for everyone. We think about it, of course.
Maxime Estève will now take a few days off and will be back, like the other Pailladin internationals, July 4, in Grammontto take along the way a summer preparation that will start on June 27.