The Parisian midfielder, who on Saturday could become the youngest player to wear the Blues jersey since 1911, must juggle between classes and training.
Even at Clairefontaine, Warren Zaire-Emery has studies on his mind. Appearing very smiling and rather at ease in front of the media, the young midfielder took the press conference as a “exercise for the baccalaureate”, Thursday November 16. At 17 years and eight months, the neo-Blue must manage his lessons in the middle of training for the France team, with whom he could play his first minutes against Gibraltar, Saturday November 18 in Nice.
How does it feel to be present for this press conference of the France A team? Didier Deschamps says you should leave yourself alone, do you feel like you’re overexposed?
Warren Zaire-Emery: It’s always a pleasure to be here in the France A team, I am very proud and very happy to represent my country, I will give everything for France. Mediatically I think we’re doing a bit much, but it’s very flattering. My family told me that people talk about me a lot and they themselves think it’s too much.
How is your arrival at the castle, does it correspond to what you had imagined?
There are only good times, the staff and players welcomed me very well. It’s definitely easier when there are teammates from the same club. Little by little I open up to them, I get to know them, sometimes they are even the ones who come to me at the table to talk to me. Everything is going well.
You could break the record for the youngest French international since 1911, is that something that makes you happy?
It’s another record, so if I can beat it, I’ll be very happy. But it’s the coach who will decide, I’m ready. It’s sure that it goes quickly, afterward I don’t ask myself any questions, I play, I have fun because it’s above all a passion. I give everything on the pitch, as I have been accustomed to doing since I was little.
You are working in a position where there is an exceptional talent pool in Blue, with big names who have been there. What are your references?
I try to be inspired by everyone. We all have a different style, so if I take inspiration from everyone, I’ll have a little bit of everything. There are only very good players in the France team and I am very happy to train with them because they give me advice that will make the difference. Thanks to them for helping me, and I’ll be there for them too.
You have been a widely used player since the start of the season, with a small injury to your ankle a few weeks ago. At 17, are we aware of our physical capacity to compete in high-intensity matches?
I listen to my body, so I would say so if things weren’t going well. The coaches also tell me to be careful, to recover well. A career is long, and I want to play so I give my all every time. The physiotherapists are also there for treatment, and I do the recovery, the cold baths, the meals, so I hope it will last a long time.
In June, there is the baccalaureate and the Euro, how do you manage your studies?
I do my classes at the same time. On Wednesday, I did my Spanish homework (laughs). I try to organize myself, whenever I have time I do my homework. I try to do both at the same time as best as possible, working on my lessons before afternoon training. It also helps me keep a balance, otherwise I would be playing the console in my free time, and I don’t think that would be better.
Between the baccalaureate, a gold medal at the Olympics, or a title at the Euro, what do you choose?
I take all three, they are objectives. It’s not up to me to choose [entre l’Euro et les Jeux olympiques]. There are two coaches, I think they discuss a lot together and it will be up to them to make the decision. I am at their disposal whatever happens.
You often talk about your family, your dad says that you continue to surprise him, how are they coping with all this?
My family is always there for me. When it’s not good, they tell me, when it’s good too. It allows me to keep my head on my shoulders. We couldn’t really celebrate my selection together because I was in class from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. after the announcement. I looked at the list alone, I was very happy, my teammates jumped on me, but I was also disappointed not to spend this time at home, with my family.