It's hard to find a place in some teams, especially the top 4, like PSG. It then becomes an obstacle course to prove what one is capable of. It is therefore necessary to make the choice, sometimes well in spite of itself but decisive to continue to evolve, that to leave elsewhere. On the sidelines of Rodez's match against PSG, we went to meet one of these players who had to get used to this idea to have more play time, progress in his career and provide support to his team on the field, Cathy Couturier. Interview.

A special match for you with Rodez, against your former PSG club?
Yes exactly, this is the club where I did my training. Since 2012 I was at Paris Saint-Germain so tomorrow is the opportunity to show the things I have learned, and how I have evolved since my departure.

You did your scales in clubs in the Paris region, even if you're from Oise, you knew you wanted to play football at a high level?
Yes that's right, that's why I asked to be loaned [to Rodez]. I was aware that my playing time was not going to be consistent in Paris. I preferred to move away a little to try to save time elsewhere.

After the U19, it was difficult for you to stay at PSG, in front of the competition, Rodez was a crucial solution for you to continue playing?
Yes I knew that to pass the international year [in selection], I was going to progress to the trainings, in term of quality of game and all that follows. Now in terms of matches, I could have had some entries with Patrice Lair, but my goal was to acquire a good time and it was not necessarily in Paris that I could have had.

In 2014/2015 you made two appearances in D1, it was difficult to make you your place there?
Yes that's it after facing international, we must remain aware that being in their place is not obvious. You can go home when it's a little game or when they need rest. Now I know very well that I still have time in front of me, I'm young, I'm waiting for one thing, it's a day, to find a big structure and show that I too can be a of those people there.

It was still a complicated season for you, even in U19? You manage to get your head out of the water right after, you have tapped into your resources? Your goal was the team of France at that moment?
No, I played every game in U19 [in 2014/2015]. Last season with Paris, I started to make more efforts. With the Euro, we started to have a good group [at PSG] and I had my chances with Gilles Eyquem. It was really the goal to make the Euro, to have some playing time, which was the case and then to join the U20 group for the World Cup. I had the chance to go to Papua New Guinea. The goal was especially the Euro, which I could do and I'm proud of it.

"At first we say it's difficult"

How difficult was it for you to be in the U20 squad for the World Cup group?
Yes, at the World Cup I did not necessarily have time to play, I made an appearance at the end of a match [against New Zealand]. At first we say it's difficult. But after the most important in a competition like this is to be there for the group, mentally, bring what we can in the life of the group, training, games, provide all the support they need in the most difficult times. After honestly it's something unforgettable to participate in a competition like this. Anyone would like to have this chance so I would say that on this point there, I have nothing to complain about in spite of almost no playing time.

How do we do it, to stay on the bench when we have so much to prove?

Yes of course it's difficult, after these are the choices of the coach, we can not put on the ground automatically without the coach decides. After that we always come out a little stronger. In addition, we made a beautiful journey, arriving in the final, it's something huge. It's not just the eleven who went to the finals but the whole group, the technical and medical staff.

We also saw that in U19, you missed the mark of little face Lyon in 2015, before taking your revenge in 2016, it was an intense moment for you?
Yes, that's exactly the 2014/2015 season against Lyon at Le Mans, we lost a goal, we were totally missed and when we woke up, the Lyon have managed to "stay the course". Now it's a final I want to say, especially in U19, we had other games and other opportunities to beat them. It was the case last year and we were happy to have won against Lyon.

What do you say in these moments a little more complicated, when you play little, how do you keep your head in your head?
Honestly it's a bit difficult on the spot. After D1 [with PSG] or as France U20 team, I told myself that I'm still young, I have time to progress, if I'm in the group is that I already have qualities . Now it may not be my turn, but when it does, it will be up to me to demonstrate and today Rodez is what I am doing.

It also seems that there was more competition in the U19 in the end, and that in D1 places are taken by indisputable holders, must take his trouble and try to pull out of the game at the young ?

Yes that's it but in D1 I would say that the places are "appointed". After that it's because they proved they were able to be in the starting lineup. Now in U19, I would say that there was always a "starting eleven" but we were more likely to change, and try other players to see the ones they are worth.

There with Rodez [9th] you are in a pretty difficult position how do you see the second part of the season?
No I would not say we are in a difficult position, we are a club that plays the maintenance as every year. They finished 5th last season so it's a good D1 team. There is more complicated with the competition, the new clubs, but we will try to continue to advance, and to go as far as possible in the Coupe de France too. Now we are progressing together collectively, it was difficult at the beginning of the season to join the group, even if the players really put me at ease on my arrival. We try to create the automatisms between us, to make a better second part of the season.

There is a particular player who helped you PSG, who you have supported we will say as more experienced young?
Yes there was Sabrina Delannoy, who pushed me and gave me advice. Just like Laure Boulleau or Marie-Laure Delie, who told me that: "you're young you'll progress". It helped me to relativize and tell me that I had to continue. They also told me that "you can manage a little the position of others" to ensure a little your position and also gain the trust of other players.

They told you what to encourage you, that you had to get hooked?

Yes that's it, there was also Jessica Houara. Honestly for me it's rather Sabrina Delannoy and Jessica Houara, often even off the field, in the locker room, they came to talk to me, give me advice, even if the coaches are difficult, it's normal, it was the required requirement. We had the qualities, if we were there, must prove that in its place, had no hesitation. It's not because we were many that we could not start on the ground one or the other. They told me to say things, not to hesitate about it because I'm in a position where I see the whole field, I really had to impose my qualities as a central defender or a 6. Did not that I hesitate to manage the players, to remind them, that I take confidence in my game, full of little words like that which reassure and which are good for the mind.

You evolve to the position of central defender, but we saw that in U19, you played also in the middle of ground?

Yes, exactly, that's it. After I prefer to play 6, central defender. It is a pretty "defensive" position but you can still bring it offensively. I had the chance to rub shoulders with coaches who taught me to play back center, it can still serve I would say. This is the case now [with Rodez] and at Euro U19 too, I made appearances as a central rear also so I was lucky to play this post.

There the objective tomorrow, it is inevitably to do better than the go, where you conceded 4 goals. You apprehend how this match?

Exactly, yes. At Charlety, we enter the locker room in the first half with only one goal conceded on goal kick (Katoto 24 '). After that I think that the whole team dropped can be a little physically. We took two goals out of four, on set kick so that's something we want to correct and we worked on training this point. Now we are at home we are at home (last season the game had hosted 3000 spectators) so we will do our best and we will look for the best possible result.

We also saw that the more games with Rodez passed, and the more the coach awarded you playing time, where you have been in the last three meetings?
Yes, it was on my return from World Cup that I became more confident and started to have my place in Rodez. I had to prove myself and I hope it will continue in this direction.

Your personal goal today is to find the team of France, knowing that young is over? Yes, I still have time, I'm only 20, now it's sure that age matters not too much but I must learn to hold the game, to gain experience and I hope that one day I would be part of the team of France

A.Photos: Mica GB M PhootoRafettes & UEFA