After two seasons in the United States, and a NWSL champion title won with Portland, Amandine Henry is preparing to return to the Lyon jersey in a few days. She gave us this interview on the occasion of her return to France and the approach of a World Cup at home, where she will be expected and followed. A major deadline that the captain of the Blue wants to approach with this positive spirit, that she brought back from America with her.



Hearts of Football - First question, how is your return to Lyon, with this OL jersey that you will wear again from January?

Amandine Henry - It's going pretty well, I'm doing some training. It's true that I discovered a few girls, almost half of the group that changed in a year and a half. After, it's easy to come back because it's a good group, that lives well, and then I'm surrounded by good players in the field, everything is easier.

I did not want to cut too much because afterwards, it's very hard to come back. In addition I will take the current season so I wanted to know the workforce before, to take some automatisms even if it is only training. It's always better to train before you really resume the championship in January.


CDF - This return to Lyon after your two seasons in the United States with Portland concluded by this title NWSL champion. What do you remember from this title and your two years there?

A.H. - The title itself was really a culmination of a wonderful experience. I think it was perhaps the most beautiful experience of my life. Whether on or off the field, I experienced unforgettable things, I met very beautiful people, I discovered a new language, a new culture, even another way to play and work. So yes, the title was really a culmination and the icing on the cake.


CDF - In the Portland staff, you had Nadine Angerer. I guess she had to bring a lot to the group. What role did she play with you and perhaps for you in particular?

A.H. - As a player already, it was really a strong symbol in a team. And there, that she is coach, yes, it was really a relay for us. In addition, she is European, so she knew how we played in Europe, even in France. And in the United States, it takes necessarily a time of adaptation because it is of the direct game. So I was happy to have it and it was a support for me. "


CDF - How was the life of the group organized, the daily life outside the matches?

A.H. - It was a completely different management. We are a little more responsible [of ourselves]. We dress as we want, we eat as we want, we see who we want, we go out when we want. While in France, we are a little more in our bubble, we are often in a group, we have to be together almost all the time. [In the United States], it's what you want. For them, the purpose is on the ground, but the way you prepare, he does not care.


CDF - One has the impression that one of the fields in which you have progressed is at the level of the state of mind ...

A.H. - Yes, this experience has allowed me to mature and to be positive. There, they are always positive. At first, I had trouble because even when I made bad matches, I was told, "No, you played very well" and I said, "No, I played bad! (laughs) You have to tell me anyway. " It's always based on the positive. And it's true that when we think positive, I realized that we are better and I find that the group lives better. I will try to keep it because it is important.

I know when I did wrong. Now I have enough maturity to say, "Yes, I played badly. Yes, I must progress on that. I need someone to say, "Come on, it'll be okay! Do not worry 'rather than:' Attention! You're not very good, what's happening to you? ".

CDF - And it's important for you as a player to have a "positive" environment, without pressure? By including in it the criticisms that can come from outside and in particular the media ...

A.H. - After everyone is different, but personally, I need good support rather than criticism. And I think for many players, it's the same. For now, the journalists have been kind to me (laughs). After, the last Euro with the France team was not easy. We took a lot on us, and I was really happy to leave after this Euro because it was a failure. And [so] I was really happy to go back and be able to find my little cocoon.

They were expecting a lot better from us, and sometimes when we put our state of mind at stake, that's where it hurts the most because we really feel we are giving ourselves 100%, of being background. Sometimes we're not going to get there, but it's not our state of mind that is not going to be good, it's perhaps the way or the image that we will release that will give this impression.

It was especially after the [Euro] that it hurts. Already we, we had our personal disappointment because we had not been successful. We had been eliminated prematurely. So already you have this disappointment. And more when you see reviews and all that, it's not easy. But at the same time, it's our job, we're exposed to the media and we have to accept. But it's not easy.


CDF - Your experience in the United States, and especially from Lyon while the club wins everything right now, it was a risk taking ...

A.H. - Yes, but that's what's needed in a career. I could have stayed in Lyon, playing in an armchair, in the best conditions but I needed a little challenge. And then, I think a football career, it's quite short and it would have been a shame to deprive me of a good experience like that. I had a chance and a great opportunity [and] yes, I took a risk but I'm happy now.


CDF - For you, other French players should just try this type of experience abroad?

A.H. - I do not know if they should, but in any case, I wish them. Even if I did not win the title, personally, humanly, [this experience] brought me a lot. After, at the level of football, I do not know if I will remember that positive because here is the direct game. Me, I was almost trained at OL and Clairefontaine with a game in possession [and] it took me a time of adaptation. But in any case, I wish it to anyone, because it allows to obtain a certain maturity.


CDF - Portland and Lyon are two flagship clubs in women's football. What would you remember if you had to compare them?

A.H. - These are two ambitious clubs [each] in their own way. Portland is really a family club, [and] I think it's also the American culture that's like that. At OL, it's really professional, there is a lot of competition. You feel more perfection in OL, while in Portland, it's rather family, as I said earlier, you miss a match we'll tell you: "It's okay," while that here, there are people behind you and you are not entitled to many chances.

CDF - In the middle with Portland you formed a duo with Lindsey Horan. Lindsey is a player who stood out in impact, be aggressive, and you more in a role of "regulator" ...

A.H. - Yes, that was it. Lindsey, she has a size a little larger than me so I left a little more on the duels. After, I think Portland had recruited me for that too. They wanted me to bring that touch of possession and technique. Suddenly, the coach often said to me: "Take the ball and it is you who manages. You see a little if you have to delay, if you have to go ahead. " That's what I was asked too. After Lindsey, I was glad to have her next to me from time to time (laughs).


CDF - Today, with the international retreats of Louisa Nécib and Camille Abily, the team of France has precisely lost players with this type of qualities, and with this role of "number 10". Do you see yourself taking this role with the Blue ones?

A.H. - No, I really stay in my element. I was trained number 6. After, I try to bring also offensively but I know that I will not be the number 10 of the future team of France. I know my qualities and my faults. After that, it is sure that Camille and Louisa leave a big void, but I think that there are some young people who progress. We must give them a little time. We have work to do, but there is still a year and a half and I think that in a year and a half, a lot of things can happen.


CDF - One has the impression that Corinne Deacon tries just a lot of things to precisely find solutions in this field. But it's difficult for now ...

A.H. - Yes, she tries a lot of things. After, we played Germany, Sweden, England, Spain, it's not small nations either. And I think that on the results, it's not too bad. If I had been told, you are practically changing the entire team and then you make these results, I direct sign, apart from Germany (laughs).


CDF - Today, you are an important player in Team France, a long way since your first selection in 2009. Was there a moment when you had the feeling of having settled, of to have won your place with Les Bleues?

A.H. - We're never really settled. Sometimes with some coaches, it will be ok, others will not, and it can go very fast. We miss a competition, a match or two, and then behind that pushes and there is competition. So we say, we must always prove. After I know that now, I have a role of manager, captain, it is for me to lead by example. After a moment ... As soon as you get your chance, you have responsibilities, and you have to go. But there is not a moment in my career where I said to myself, here I am indispensable.


CDF - The 2019 World Cup in France is approaching. Do you think that the France team will be expected, both for the final victory and the fact that it takes place at home?

A.H. - We know we are expected! Anyway, we know that we are expected at all competitions and then the fact that it is in France, it will be increased tenfold. After, I think our motivation will be the same. The fact that it is in France, there may be our loved ones next to us and it will also allow us perhaps to pass a course and win this first title, I hope.


Photo: Ryszard Dreger