Deschamps: My departure is for the good of france; I have received offers and will consider them

After the French team's FIFA World Cup journey concluded, outgoing coach Didier Deschamps was interviewed by M6, where he reflected on his 14 years at the helm of the team, discussed his decision to leave, external criticism, and his future career choices.

(Sighs) This is a very important moment, because it's the "last dance," and the end of an era. The past 14 years have been incredible; you've experienced many victories, but also defeats and criticism. Throughout these years, you've always been reluctant to talk about yourself before talking about the team. Now that everything is coming to an end, will you look back and assess what you have accomplished, and what this experience has meant to you personally?

(Sighs) It might take me a long time to answer that question... But I have never seen myself as the most important person. The French team is above everything; it doesn't belong to me. For these 14 years, I have been serving it, fulfilling my duty.

Of course, I remember the first day I was appointed coach, the first press conference, and also what I said to the players in the locker room at the end: nothing can be greater than this jersey. In their careers, there will be nothing more beautiful than this.

Alas, I'm a bit speechless. It's really difficult...

Today is very special for me, because my coaching staff and I had been focused on securing third place. We almost made it. In the first half, we were completely struggling, but fortunately, the team responded later. We almost climbed a seemingly insurmountable mountain, but ultimately did not succeed.

Of course, I won't just use this last game to summarize everything. I'm thinking of all the things my coaching staff and I have been through together, because I don't work alone; I have many excellent people around me. At the same time, I will also think about these experiences between people. The French team has very outstanding players, and the future should be very bright. I have received a lot of messages, especially from players I've worked with in the past, and players who are still in the team now. I really enjoy communicating and discussing with them, and also enjoying the process of accompanying young players as they grow.

There are many young players in the team, and this is their first FIFA World Cup. This experience will definitely help them in the future. Although the disappointment is great now, it's... (Sighs) Some things cannot be fully explained. We faced a very strong Spanish team, and for various reasons, we were slightly off our game. This is the highest level of competition. The opponent also has strength, and the game needs to turn in your favor at some point, and all conditions need to align perfectly.

(Sighs) I won't complain. Of course, I could have done better, but my colleagues and I have done our best, hoping that the French team will always be at the top. It is there now, and I hope it stays there for as long as possible. This is my most sincere wish for the French team and all the players. For me, 14 years is a long time. Next, I will become a silent French team fan again. Starting tonight, I will no longer speak publicly about the French team.

Reporter: Why?

Because I have a duty to exercise restraint and speak cautiously, and that's all. Maybe I'm different from others, I'm not sure, but this is a principle I've set for myself, just as I restrain myself from doing other things. Next, I will start thinking more about myself, which I haven't done much in the past. I will rest well and spend time with my family.

I don't know what the future will be like. It will be different things, but it will also be good things. I will still face them with the same sincerity and passion.

There's a question that has always been on my mind. Including this FIFA World Cup, you spent 14 years protecting this team. So, during that time, who was protecting you?

(Laughs) I don't know. Of course, there were people protecting me. However, I don't want to talk about that. Frankly, I've been isolated from outside noise for almost 10 years. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to persevere until now; I might have broken down long ago, or gotten angry because of those things.

Even though this is our job, we must face criticism. I know who I am facing, and I know who is speaking to whom, and I am even clearer whether it is out of goodwill or malice. Today, I will not judge the media here, because it is meaningless. I have nothing to settle.

For me, the most important thing is the internal life of the team, what I truly experience every day. Frankly, what others say or write is not the most important; what matters is what I experience every day, and how I communicate with the people around me, because I also live a normal life. Life is beautiful; this is happiness.

You said you don't yet know what life will be like after leaving the French team, but Didier Deschamps has always been someone who likes to be in control. Are you afraid of a future you can't control?

No, this is actually within my control, because I decided it was time to end. I can honestly say that this decision was not for myself, but for the benefit of the French team. Perhaps I haven't said it before, but now I can tell you very honestly that I made this decision not for personal reasons, but because the environment around me had become very oppressive, even suffocating. The French team should not have to bear that.

Of course, this decision was not made in one day; I thought about it for a long time. Since this decision was announced, the environment around the French team has improved a lot. I like to be in control, and this was also within my control. I could have made the decision earlier, or announced it before or during the FIFA World Cup, but I didn't, because I have great respect for the French team. Everything has its right time.

Next, I will take some time to adjust, but I won't be idle forever. Because of football and the French team, I am a very lucky person; I have the freedom to choose.

So, are you afraid of an unknown future? There have already been some rumors, for example, that you might coach the Italian national team.

Rumors... I'm still... very humbly, I have indeed received some invitations, so I will consider them slowly. (Laughs)

At least you know what you want to do.

I won't suddenly become a pastry chef, nor will I go into politics, nor will I do something completely different. I will continue to stay in football, just perhaps in a different form. Football is my passion, and it's part of my life.

It has also been rumored that you might coach another national team. Is that a possible option for you, or do you prefer coaching a club? Because apart from the French team, it's hard for me to imagine Didier Deschamps coaching another national team. (Laughs)

I won't rule out any possibility; that's the most standard answer.

In any case, we will still like you.

Yes, yes, I know. I have my own career path. In football, there are mainly two options for me. As for management positions, I have no plans for that. I am still young, so I might continue to coach a club, or a national team, in the future. Both possibilities exist.

Now that everything is coming to an end, as you look back, are there any decisions you regret? Or are there any players you wish you had communicated with more deeply at the time?

I have no regrets, and I don't think that way. With the accumulation of experience—of course, I am still considered young—I stopped asking myself these questions long ago, because I have no answers. I don't know if the outcome would have been better or worse if I had made different choices.

At certain times, I could certainly have made different decisions. But at the time, I made choices based on the information I had, because I believed they were right. If one must talk about regrets, one can always find areas where things could have been done better, but sometimes one also has to see that things could have been worse.

This is also related to my personality. For me, having my own happiness is enough. Even for the people I dislike the most, I wouldn't wish them misfortune. Some people like me, and some don't. I prefer to devote my time to those who like me, and to those I deem worthy, rather than to others. This is the rule of competitive sports. When you win, everyone is together; when you lose, you have to bear some of it alone.

(Laughs) Yes, that's often the case. But after all, you have won many honors. I have always believed that in competitive sports, losing is the norm, and winning is not. So, I still want to congratulate you.

I am indeed so fortunate. Of course, I don't work alone, but I take responsibility because that's my job. I am very clear that in the world of football, whether it's a club coach or a national team coach, if the team wins, the credit goes to the players; if the team loses, the responsibility belongs to the coach. But this doesn't affect my sleep. I sleep very well, very peacefully, and very calmly. I reflect, and I communicate with the technical team, and then at some point I make decisions, including some very important ones.

But I need this state; this is my adrenaline. I have always lived at this pace, and I feel that both my body and mind need it.

Didier, I have many more questions for you, but unfortunately, time is running out, and I must let you go. One last question. Before you leave, is there a preconceived notion about Didier Deschamps that you have always wanted to correct? Is there a perception that has deeply entered the public subconscious that confuses you, or makes you think: "Why do people think that?"

There is indeed one, and it's often mentioned. I have a son, who is now grown up. But when he was little, many players would say to him: "It must not be easy having a father like that at home."

But I'm not that kind of person at home. I don't deliberately try to create a certain image. I naturally adapted to the new generation of players, and it wasn't difficult for me. They are more willing to express emotions, and more accustomed to communicating through physical contact, and also need more companionship and help.

But in essence, I am this kind of person, because I love life. My coaching staff and I have had many happy times together. This includes not only things on the field, but also daily interactions and shared moments. We eat lunch and dinner together, and talk about everything. I love life. Although I seem quite serious now, I also like to joke and tease people.

That can be felt.

This is also part of life. Of course, there's another point. I'm not very aware of it myself, and it's not intentional, but sometimes my way of speaking might seem a bit harsh, or make people feel pressured, but I'm actually not like that; I just don't notice it myself.

I am willing to connect with people and always willing to communicate, and I have always tried to do that. My family gave me a good education and taught me many values. These human values are as important as the values we uphold on the field.

If you had to describe Didier Deschamps at home, in front of his son, in two words, what would they be?

Very easygoing, very easygoing. (Laughs) Very easygoing. (Laughs)

Didier, it has been a great honor for me to follow you throughout this FIFA World Cup, and it was your last FIFA World Cup. So, from a personal perspective, I want to thank you. I think there might not be a more wonderful experience than this in the future, and I could even end my career. (Laughs)

No, no, no. You are still young; your future is ahead of you.

However, I also want to thank you again for your companionship and support. As I said before, you helped us convey these rich emotions to tens of millions of French people. Of course, there is disappointment now, because we cannot always win, but there is also a lot to be proud of.

This is the charm of sports and football. In football, perhaps after only a minute, people go from crying to laughing. This adrenaline is wonderful. Finally, I want to say that many people can achieve excellent results in different fields, but they cannot experience this adrenaline that comes from competitive sports. It consumes a lot of your energy, but at the same time, it is so wonderful.

Thank you all, thank you everyone.

Thank you for everything you have done, Didier Deschamps.

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