Elected guardian of the pre-season and end of season with his UNOH club by the WHAC, Romane Salvador, just 19 years old, has already won two U19 championships with PSG against his former club, OL. Pro from the age of 17, the young player had to quickly learn to rely on herself. After learning for 10 years her position in France, Romane Salvador decides to try the American experience last September to be able to combine his passion and his studies. Today she dreams of playing in NWSL, just like another French woman who made it Amandine Henry. Portrait of a player who managed to harden in his game but also mentally to overcome difficult passages.



Football Hearts - Is the American experience beneficial or is it cheesy?

Romane Salvador - It all depends on why we go there. I left because I signed pro in Paris very early and I did not necessarily have the opportunity to study [next]. So I went there to have a diploma and be able to combine both. In France, being a professional in a big club and studying in parallel, it's a bit complicated anyway.


CDF - What studies do you do in the United States?

R. - I am in sport marketing and management. These are studies that span four years. I'm fluent in English so I'm fine and I have a scholarship so I do not pay anything. After we are in the "competition", then the results count a lot.


CDF - What are the positive and negative sides for you to play in the United States?

R.S. - I speak for myself and in relation to my experience that I had in France. The positive side here in the United States is that they are very considerate, they do everything to help you, they accompany you in what you do, and for me in France, not at all. I suffered a lot in France. They are more in "I get you inside" to see how far you have in the head. While here they accompany you and they do everything for you to succeed, and that's what the French women who are with me think too.


CDF - I had discussed with Amandine Henry about this, about the difference between France and the United States and unlike you in NWSL, it was not really "framed". So compared to your university experience it's completely different.

R.S. - Yes because she was in pro, while I am only in university. After we also eat what we want, before the matches etc (laughs)


"The season is very intense, but very short."


CDF - You are in second division university ...

R. - I am in NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). I did not have enough credits to play in NCAA II. So I had to do a year [in NAIA] to have 24 credits and be able to be transferred. At the end of the year I would be transferred to NCAA Division 1. I do not know yet in which FCC I will lead. The NAIA is a parallel level but it is really not bad. I had trouble understanding the system initially.

I arrived in August and I started in September and we finished early December [our championship]. Now we work out and we run for 6 months (smile), but there are no more competitions. We will have friendly matches in 3 months but otherwise it's all.

For a very short time, I made 26 games in three months, knowing that I made all the matches as a holder, so 90 minutes and what is good is that we get physically shapes. We play, we train, we take pleasure anyway. The season is very intense, but very short.


CDF - What do you remember from this experience then?

R.S. - Frankly? (she thinks) I've never had so much "playing time" (laughs) I've progressed in everything, they've stuffed me with confidence, they've given me so much so I've gained confidence in me. Thing that I had a little lost in Paris ...


CDF - While you won the U19 final in June 2017?

R.S. - Yes in U19 I was confident, but after when I was above [in D1] it was a bit different. We're left a little behind [as third goalkeeper] (there was Katarzyna Kiedrzynek and Ann-Katrin Berger in front of her). So it's a little hard to live with every day, it's not easy every day to train every day and to act as if you did not exist [in the team]. So I lost a little confidence in myself. Here I had to show what I was worth.

CDF - But you did not let anything appear yet when we saw you a few times and especially during this final U19 against Lyon last season with PSG ...

R.S. - It's hard (light laugh). Do not show [what you really feel]. It was not easy every day but as I told you I signed very early in pro with Paris, I was 17 years old. It is the age where we have not yet the hindsight or the intelligence to harden on his career we will say and be mentally ready to cash some moments. And here I am only 19 years old (laughs).


"I matured very quickly [in this world of football]"


CDF - But you have a lot of maturity yet ...

R.S. - Yes I'm used to being with big, so I matured very quickly [in this football environment]. It takes to adapt and win, of course.


CDF - You had been interviewed more on the field by the FFF just after the last shot Lyon and the joy of your teammates in this final won in U19 (the second consecutive victory for her and the club).

R.S. - Yes they interviewed me, I was in tears, I could not, I told myself "why they interview me" (laughs).


During the penalty shoot,

I said to myself "if you do not stop it it's dead"


CDF - You were still the heroine of the match ...

R.S. - It was hard ... I think it was the best time I had in my life. I could not anymore. During the penalty shoot-out, I said to myself "if you do not stop it, it's dead" [for the second win in a row]. (Laughter)


"My visit to Paris allowed me

to really progress mentally "


CDF - In addition you did your training in Lyon.

R.S. - Yes I did 8 years in Lyon, then I played 2 years in Paris in D1 and U19. Now I am here. My visit to Paris allowed me to really progress mentally, in my head, in everything. I acquired professional bases. So it really forged me.


CDF - So to come back to the United States. What does this passage with the UNOH have allowed you to improve in your particular game, even if it's not over?

R.S. - The thing is, here I am a guardian ... but they rely heavily on me. For example, during a match I made a decisive pass. When we are in trouble, the girls go through me and I have to try to make the last pass for the goal, so they really rely on me, in relation to the direction of the game. I have a lot of confidence thanks to that and it allowed me to try things, I'm not afraid to go what.


CDF - Mentally you must be even more prepared thanks to your experience in the United States, even if it must be harder for you?

R.S. - Being far from my family is not easy every day, because I'm only 19 years old but it's getting better and better. I had a period of adaptation. But it's forging. After I have very long days, I go to class, I go to training, I have to work my classes, I have to do the matches ...

But I was lucky because I knew how to prove myself, and the second goalie did not play for a minute, which meant that I really had the confidence of my coach and my team.


CDF - Is there a certain culture of winning at all costs in the United States?

R.S. - Of course, you have to give yourself all the time to have your place, otherwise it goes quickly. We won everything except the qualifications for the nationals where we lost in the semifinals. We finished 3rd anyway.


CDF - What differentiates France from the United States according to you?

R.S. - At the level of the game already, it has nothing to do. They are very athletic here, you have to know how to endure. We are not as tactical as in France. But I'm lucky to have an English coach, so he has a very European football culture and therefore we are very technical in the team.

Here we are close to the coach, the staff, while in France it's not really like that, but maybe it depends on the coaches. Here they are more in the relationship.


CDF - What are your next goals then? Return to D1 after gaining experience in the United States ...

R.S. - So my primary goal is to finish my course, so my next three years in NCAA Division 1, and get myself drafted (to be chosen by a club) in NWSL right after that.


CDF - The American dream you live well or you regret France ...

R.S. - Ah no, at one point I was at a point where I was fed up in France, and frankly here I'm enjoying myself. In Paris I made the final, but I played only 4 matches in the year in U19 (and 0 in D1).

No I did not have a guardian "in front of me" but I hurt myself a lot and psychologically I was not at my best ...


CDF - And what is the club that makes you dream to play then in NWSL?

R.S. - The one that makes me dream but I do not believe (smile), it would be Orlando or Portland.


Photo: Giovani Pablo