The career of a player can reveal intense moments, such as a U19 European Cup or a Military World Cup, more recently. Events that allow among other things to progress in his game and his mind. Like Léa Le Garrec, midfielder, who has just returned to D1 with Guingamp. Interview.

 

Football Hearts - Football is a job that has attracted you for a long time?

Lea Garrec - Yes, it was a goal since I was very young. Already at the age of 10, when I knew that Clairefontaine existed, I told my dad: "I want to go to Clairefontaine and I want to play in Team France". That's what I want to do, it's something special in life and I told myself that I would do everything to be professional footballer and be in France A team. Today it's my job, I wanted finish my studies before and now I will do everything to go.

People who know me know that's what I want. I've always set goals, and even if it's fun, I've also made sacrifices, missed family time because I still had Football. I hope to go to the end of my dreams, in France A team ... It's really what I want, after if I have not the level, I would realize it and I would say to myself: " Well, well, you will not get there, but at least you will have tried ". I will have no regrets.

 

Hearts of Foot - Your first match this season with Guingamp was against US Saint-Malo (D2) in the Coupe de France, it was a special moment for you? What do you remember from this meeting?

L. L. G. - Yes it was delicate, that's for sure. A special moment, but also the pleasure of playing against them. Now what I remember is the victory and continue in the Coupe de France. Because it's been two years, I did not spend that lap, I played in Saint-Malo and every time we fell against Guingamp. The first year, we lost 4-0, last year, we almost passed, we lost 2-1 to 5 minutes from the end. So I'm happy to pass this round of the Coupe de France and go further. The most important thing was to win this first match with Guingamp.

 

"It was a bit tricky to start with Guingamp, against Saint-Malo."

 

Yes very particular, I did not expect to start and then in the end I did the whole game. It went well for us, although in the first half, they were not too bad. We had a little trouble getting in and in the second half they let go physically.

 

"Also show my teammates that they can count on me."

 

Soccer Hearts - You made a sensation when you came back with Guingamp, it was important for you to be decisive and to prove yourself quickly? Your goal you had prepared or it was really on the moment?
L. L. G. - Yes [it was important] to build confidence quickly and also show my teammates that they can count on me.

In fact, my former teammates from Saint-Malo made me laugh because they told me "since when you have fun shooting from afar like this". I told them that in fact, "it's just that in Saint-Malo I played middle right or attacking" while there Sarah [M'Barek] asked me to go down a notch, so I I have more perspective on the game. Moreover, in the French team, I often play in 6 and it was a long time since I had not played at this post there. I like to hit but after it was not prepared, I did not think about it, it's instinct and then it's all (laughs).

 

Hearts of Foot - The Guingampaises welcomed you in the group?

L. L. G. - Yes, plainly. I know a lot of girls, there are some with whom I played two years ago and some with whom I was at the Military World Cup. So the integration is good and I thank them for that, it is never easy to arrive in the middle of the season. I'm really glad I came here [to Guingamp] to finally be back (laughs).

 

Football Hearts - You are from Dreux, you went through the PSG when you were 17/18 years, you juggled with the D1 and U19. You left because of the competition and your young age?

L. L. G. - Not at all.

When I left Clairefontaine, I went to PSG and in parallel I did a BTS alternately in real estate, I was in first year (2011). They offered me a contract to do only football, but I asked to continue my second year of BTS. They refused, they wanted to keep girls to do only Foot. At the time I was only 18, we do not know what can happen, I preferred to finish my studies and then I think of football.

PSG offered me a contract, which financially was not interesting enough for me. I was 18 years old, they lived in Paris, at their parents' home. It was not my case. I would like to say that I could not stay in these conditions ... Guingamp had called me at this time and gave me the opportunity to finish my studies alternately and continue to play in D1. I left because of that. In my head it was "I finish my studies and football will see after". So I signed to the EAG, I got my BTS, then I made a license.

 

 

Football Hearts - Is it a club that has marked your progress anyway?

L. L. G. - The PSG? Yes, after that it was still complicated. I like to dribble, I like to hit, I like to score goals and PSG, we had no right to dribble, it was quite frustrating for me. I discovered a professional structure even if it was still amateu. We worked the day and we trained at night, it was totally different at the time. After I met very nice people, like Elise Bussaglia with whom I stayed in contact and that I appreciate very much, it really helped me to integrate.

 

Football Hearts - Today, PSG has a big pool of talented players like Grace Geyoro or Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Pearl Morroni, this is an aspect that is important training?

L.L.G. - It's totally evolved and it's very good. Good for young people coming in and I think it will continue to evolve with the next generations. We will have helped put the first links [PSG].

 

Hearts of Foot - Just after you join Guingamp, you hit hard in your first season and more, being tenured at each meeting and with 6 goals to your assets. It was your best season?

L. L. G. - Yes it was my best season in D1, it's really where I could express myself really fully. I had the confidence of the coach, we had a good team. Then the following years, Sarah M'Barek arrived and she gave me the armband. Some did not necessarily appreciate and I did not live very well. I hurt myself for 5 months. It was a big injury and when I got back my spirits were not too much there. I was in full license, I lost my job in Saint-Brieuc because I was doing too many hours with my federal contract. So I preferred to leave and the only company I found to complete my license alternately was in Saint-Malo, so I joined the club in stride. And it was good because at that moment, the club played the climb in D2, I prayed every day for it to happen (laughs). The goal was to complete my license correctly.

 

"Of course it makes you a character."

 

Football Hearts - You bounce very quickly from a disappointment, the mind for you is acquired? How did it come to you to be so strong mentally?

L. L. G. - The mind, I worked it a lot. I still had difficult times. People put me a lot of sticks in the wheels, it was still complicated but I knew bounce every time. There are many things. When I was European Champion in 2010 with the 91/92 generation [born in 1993], I was the only U17 to be with them. It was not necessarily easy for me because there was jealousy. When I came back to Clairefontaine with this title, it became complicated with some girls. For the World Cup, which was played two months later with the same selection in U20, I was told "you know Léa, you're young, you'll live more". Today, I have never experienced a World Cup [in youth], except that with the military, it was something beautiful but necessarily it does not have the same flavor as a World Cup in itself . At that moment I asked myself questions, I said to myself "it's unfair what". So it inevitably forges you a character and then at the level of the mind, you try to work even more and there I find that I arrived at a stage. Even Sarah when I met her in December, she told me very well that with what I had endured, because she knew my path a little, I had taken the mind. There at least October [with Saint-Malo] I took a red card, totally stupid, and that too, it made me grow in the end. So I say to myself, you have to go through there to be better.

 

"Representing my country, every time is a great pride"

 

Football Hearts - You have contributed greatly to the good results and the maintenance of Saint-Malo by your game, and especially your vision of the game, how was your visit to this club? You were even voted player of the D2 the previous season. These are individual titles, but is it a good motivation for a player?

L. L. G. - Very very well, frankly. It was a bit unknown to me because I was coming down from a division, whereas since I was 15 I was in the elite. So going back to D2 was not easy, I did not really know that level. They were riding DH, and although some had played at the Briochin Stadium [Ex-Guingamp] at the time, I was a little too demanding in my first year of practice and match. So my coach has reasoned me about it, because some girls had never known this division there.
 
It was very difficult for me because when you pass by Clairefontaine, by selections, you always have a requirement that it is in the training, the matches, or even in the hygiene of life so it was especially on this aspect that I had to take on myself.
 
After I always gave the best of myself for the club. I am a competitor so I always wanted to win everything, and help the club, because it is really family friendly and I stay in good terms with the leaders and even the players. But there I felt that it was the year of too much for me. Last summer after the World Cup, I said to myself, I stay in Saint-Malo despite proposals from D1, but I wanted to stay because I felt we could do something and then I realized , that I was one of the only ones with the coach to want to ride in D1. For a certain part of the team [to go up in D1] it's too many requirements, too much compromise for their life, their job, their studies, too complicated for them to manage so they did not have that desire. What I can understand Me, I had this desire, so I said to my President "I have goals in mind, I'm in Team B France, I must evolve and I can not afford to lose 6 month". They understood my situation very well and even if it bothered them, because the maintenance is not necessarily acquired, they still agreed to let me go and I thank them for that, they could have opposed my departure .
 
Yes after I do not stop too much on it [on personal titles]. For me the most important thing is that the breeders see me and call me in selection, go in France team, represent my country, each time it is a great pride. So after the individual titles, the personal stats, it's good but the most important is that the team wins ...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Soccer Hearts - You say in an interview that you left Guingamp because there was tension when you received the captain's armband in 2014 when Sarah M'Barek took the lead. For you it was not a fatality to leave the club if you did not feel comfortable to evolve? It's important the mood of the group for you?
 
L. L. G. - Yes, when Sarah arrived, I did not know her personally, I had just heard about it. When we took over the preparation, we played against PSG, in the first friendly match and it puts me the "armband". I was the first surprise, I was only 20 years old. Although I had more experience in the selection all that, she puts me captain, but she had not even warned me, she had not told me anything. I take the role, I had already been captain in young, so no problem. Except that ... the old have a little mischief it gives it to a girl, who has been there for 1 year, even if for me it means nothing. So I took a little for my rank, by reflections, I felt that it embarrassed. I did not tell Sarah about it, I did not tell her anything, I took it on myself, and after a month and a half, my body did not want to take it anymore. I slept badly, it was not really good for me and I made a fracture of the sacrum (it is located at the pelvis, a bone break very painful). My doctor had never seen that. They even did a study at UEFA, so rare was the case. I had two months of complete sports stop and after two months of rehabilitation.
 
No, no no [it was not inevitable to leave the club] that's what I explained to Bertrand Desplat, President of Guingamp when I met him in early December. It was a thing of the past, but he was not aware, he did not understand why I was gone, he told the leaders "why did you let Lea go?" Now he understands but it's too late, and most of the time, people are not aware. When you do not necessarily want to talk at the right time, it's two and a half years ago so now I can talk about it more easily, but at the time it was difficult.
[The state of mind] yes it's very important to me. Now that football is my job, if you go to work and it goes bad or the atmosphere is rotten it's boring.
 
 
 
Soccer Hearts - Would you take back the armband if Sarah M'Barek gives it to you?
 
L. L. G. - No (sec). It is obvious that no. ... In the field it will not stop me from talking to girls, if I have something to say, I'll tell them. Salma [Amani] does it very well, I leave him with great pleasure, but I do not want more [of this responsibility] no I want more frankly, it traumatized me. I had it at the Military world, but it was different. Justine Gourvil had it [all the competition], but she did not play against Cameroon so Elisabeth Loisel gave it to me, I knew that the girls were not going to say anything.

Football Hearts - In addition, the team has totally changed today, except for Salma Amani, they are all new players, it's also something that pushed you to go back to the door of the EAG?

L. L. G. - There was already Margaux Bueno, Faustine Robert, although I did not play a lot with them because I was hurt, but I knew them. After Charlotte Lorgeré, there is Louise Fleury. All these players there, I knew them because they were in U19. Salma had already played with her. At the group level, I knew that I had no worries to have.

 

Football Hearts - Did you have any appraisals compared to the previous season of Guingamp that had been complicated?

L. L. G. - Yes, their season was really very complicated, the atmosphere was not great and I was really focused on the World Cup. They called me at that time. For me, it was delicate, because I was in full competition and I had almost given my agreement to Saint-Malo. So I did not see myself telling them, "in the end I do not stay" for me it was not correct. Although Guingamp's proposal suited me, I thought about it, the club wanted a quick answer but I did not want to make a decision lightly. I arrived at an age where I no longer make the decisions quickly, it has cost me dearly in the past. So I recontacted Sarah I explained, she understood even if she was disappointed because she wanted me [since the beginning of the season]. So when I called her back in November, she appreciated that I was calling her back and it went very well and being honest with her, when I expressed my refusal [of departure].

 

Football Hearts - Before being reassured and also slightly disappointed by the results of your old club? You chose Guingamp, but could it have been another club?

L. L. G. - Yes it upset me a little. I was approached by other clubs, but in the end Guingamp was the best solution for me. Today I do not regret my choice. They are fourth, and I watched the match against Marseille. Already put 4 goals to OM, it's not bad and then I saw that the group was living well, so I said to myself "why not".

 

Football Hearts - Was it still a goal to return to D1 in the end?

L. L. G. - Yes, and then I wanted to return quickly and posters against Lyon, against Paris, Montpellier ... it's always interesting to play these games there.

 

Football Hearts - You have played in addition to Griedge M'Bock or Clarisse Le Bihan with whom you were in U19, they are players who are in A now, they have marked you sportingly and humanly?

L. L. G. - (thinks) Griedge, yes, she always had abilities above each time. It had limited the impression that she was not even thoroughly (laughs). She is really impressive, then it's really someone top, nice, I really appreciate it. After Clarisse, she was often injured when I was at the club, I have no memories of some games with her. After I got on well with her but at the football I have less memories. Sometimes she was not playing because I was playing, so we were a little competing, that's why it's a bit harder to say. Even as a youngster, we were together, even if she was a year younger than me.

 

Hearts of Foot - There is also Faustine Robert that you find, like Charlotte Lorgeré with whom you participated in the Military World Cup, it played?

L. L. G. - Yes, of course, because I know them, I know their quality also in the field. I love playing with Faustine, I know she runs everywhere. And humanly also I really like these two people.

 

Football Hearts - This weekend you have the shock of your second half of the season, it's against Olympique Lyonnais. How do you apprehend this match, especially for you who has just come back?

L. L. G. - (thinks, laughs) I'm happy to play against Lyon, it's been a while since I played against them. The last time it was at Roudourou, we lost 5 to 1 and I made the decisive pass to Michèle Ngono Mani, it was a magnificent goal at the end of the meeting and I was too happy because we had scored. It's interesting to play against teams like that, because it allows you to see your evolution, to be able to measure yourself to the best players in the world we'll say. There are some girls who are in A and on our side, the whole team is not pro. I know that I will give everything I can and especially appreciate that moment and after if we can create a small feat, we will try but I just hope we can play our game and not say "no you just have to defend to not take goals. " I'm not in that spirit.

 

"I could tell myself later that I played against Alex Morgan"

Soccer Hearts - You've probably heard about OL's new recruit Alex Morgan. What do you do as a player to see such an international in France?

L. L. G. - I could tell myself later that I played against Alex Morgan and then it's still a great player, so she's very well known so that's it. I know that all my friends, especially the boys, are saying to me, "Oh, you're going to play Alex Morgan, so maybe I'll come see you" (laughs). It attracts [the crowds]. So it's good, like that, it brings back the world, we hear much more about women's football, so that I think it's very good. It's true that Jean-Michel Aulas did a great job, and on social networks, she's really popular. Even for the French championship, it will bring level, it will bring back the world. It's like Laure Boulleau in France.

 

"In my opinion the hardest thing is to last behind"

 

Football Hearts - You had a run as a youngster at the Bleues since the U17, before winning the U19 European Championship in 2010, the second title of France, you were 18 years old at the time, you had a good group, solid and supportive. Looking back, do you manage to realize what you have accomplished?

L. L. G. - It was really huge, it was beautiful. The same year Griezmann, Grenier, Lacazette had been European Champions, a week before us. And this last edition [U19 in 2016], when I saw that the boys were still Champions, I said to girlfriends "you will see the girls will win too". I felt like that. I'll have to bet (laughs). We had the chance with football to travel, to meet people, to see lots of countries. It was in Macedonia, there were Ines Jaurena, Lea Rubio, Kelly Gadea, Marion Torrent and Viviane Asseyi who are in B with me. The hard part is to last behind. We all have a moment of glory. Me [during Euro U19] I was 17 years old, in the newspapers I was already announced as a hope of women's football ... Today, I'm 23 years old, I went through some clubs and in selection but I mean I'm not in France A.

 

Football Hearts - As you told us we (the media) was announcing you as a hope at that moment, it has a little destabilized you?

L. L. G. - I do not think it helps. I do not think I have taken the big head or what, but it can happen so many things, I mean we are young, there are wounds, the competition with the old ... It must be experienced, it also passes by matches, by the highest level, by the competitions. After the young, it's going fast but it can quickly stop. We had studies next, now they are all pros, some do not study, but we must think about the after, because at 30 years is over.

 

Hearts of Foot - We also bounce on the Military World Cup, we saw that you were really moved at the coronation (see editing on our Facebook), you drooled to get there?

L. L. G. - Yesii (laughs). What made me sad was that Justine Gourvil (captain of the selection) who played with me in Saint-Malo and who is someone I really appreciate, was playing the last game of his career. I put myself in its place in fact and finish on a Military World Cup is still beautiful. Me the day I stop the football in the final of a World Cup and I win, it's wonderful, frankly.

The group lived a lot compared to her, she had small personal problems. I know her family, she was there at the tournament like mine. While in 2010, there were no relatives. When you experience moments like this, your first wish is to share that with them. I'm pretty sensitive about that, so I let my emotions speak (laughs).

 

Football Hearts - In the Coupe de France, you still face a Breton club, you're lucky anyway, you're not going too far?

L. L. G. - Yes (laughs) so much the better. After the match is not won yet, you can always be had. But yes I hope it will be within our reach and we can go further.

 

Hearts of Foot - We will finish with our last question. Today, what are your club goals? So, do you think of A? We know you're in B, you played the Istria Cup and more ... there you have just been called in B, it's a nice reward for you?

L. L. G. - In a club? It's better than previous seasons, of course. So we went well, but the season is long enough to win a title, create the feat, create a story with women. I know that the President always wants to add something to the charts like the boys, who won the Coupe de France. I do not want to move forward, you have to take match by match, but I know that the team really wants to do something this year anyway.

Of course, that's one of my goals too. I'm in B for a while and I know that it will go through performances with Guingamp and also in selection B. Now I do not want to burn the stages, if I go, I have to stay because I know that there are a lot of girls who have [selections] and then go back and see more for a few months, never see again so I do not want it to happen to me. I really want it to be over time.

 

Photos: EA Guingamp & Foot B'Elles - Manu Cahu

Dounia MESLI