Désiré Doué, 19, was interviewed for Téléfoot on Sunday. He covered a wide range of subjects, including his beginnings, his triggers, his family, his work and his relationship with Luis Enrique.
Doué “We’ve qualified for the next round, so that’s great”.
Is this your first TV interview, or are you feeling a bit stressed?
No, no, everything’s fine, I feel great.
Did you have a good game against Brest, with a goal and an assist?
Yes, I had a great start and was able to help the team. We’ve qualified for the next round, so that’s great.
And what about the next stage?
I’ve never been good at predictions, but I know that at Paris Saint-Germain we like big challenges and whatever the opponent, we’ll be ready.
Doué “Today, they want to focus on youth, and that’s what really appealed to me”.
What does it feel like to join a big club like PSG at a young age?
A lot of pride and excitement, because ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had dreams and ambitions of playing for the biggest clubs in the world. Today, I’m at PSG, one of the biggest clubs in the world. It was a choice that came from my heart, and I don’t regret it at all. There’s the coach, Luis Enrique, one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best.
For me, it was an opportunity I had to seize. I’m a young player, I need game time, I need to progress and play, and to see that players my age, a little younger or a little older, can play for Paris Saint-Germain, shows the whole project they want to put in place. Today, they want to focus on youth, and that’s what I really liked.
Doué “For me, it’s something very important, every day, to be disciplined, it’s been my passion since I was very little”.
Can you explain your professionalism at your age, which is quite exceptional? (Julien Stephan, his former coach at Rennes)
It’s very nice to get a message from my old coach. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a phone call or a message from him. So I’m delighted. I’ve inherited this work ethic from my parents, you always have to work hard in life, and they instilled these values in us. For me, it’s very important to be disciplined every day, it’s been my passion since I was a kid. I try to give myself the best chance of achieving my goals, and I work every day to do so.
You started out very young, but what kind of man are you off the pitch?
I’m a very happy person who enjoys life. I spend a lot of time with my family, my brother, my little sister and my parents.
Doué “I’ve often been told that I’m creative, and that I bring a lot of danger”.
Your phrasing, are you comfortable talking?
I wouldn’t say it’s innate, but I’ve always liked to talk, to discuss, with my friends, my family, at school too, I was the kind of student who participated a lot, sometimes a little too much. Sometimes people would say to me, “It’s all right, Désiré, we’ve heard enough from you. But now I feel at ease, even if I don’t think I’m born with it.
What’s your playing style?
I’ve often been told that I’m creative, and that I bring a lot of danger with a good dribble. When you bring the danger to strike or deliver a pass. As my father often told me, you have to be quick with or without the ball. If I decide to dribble, it has to be quick.
Can you tell us about your relationship with your brother Guéla?
My brother is like my twin. We’ve always thought of each other as twins, ever since we were little. We have this extraordinary complicity that a lot of people notice. It’s affection, we say a lot of things to each other, we tell each other everything. Frankly, he’s an exceptional help to me on a daily basis.
(He calls his brother)
Ever since we were kids, we’ve played 1-on-1s, and sometimes he’d block me because he was such a good defender. It’s also thanks to him that I’ve been able to unlock my technique. My older brother gave me a lot. If I have this maturity and discipline, it’s largely thanks to him. I’d like to thank him for that.
Doué “To be honest with him, I’ve learned to love making his efforts there.”
How do you rate your first 7 months?
I’m very satisfied. Honestly. Even if it took a while to get used to things because everything changed for me, everything was new and it was my first transfer.
Was your first goal the turning point?
That match had a huge psychological impact, because scoring for Paris Saint-Germain was a moment I’d been waiting for.
If there was one piece of advice you could take away from Luis Enrique?
Grow the pitch. (Laughs) That’s his expression. When I arrived, I often went too far towards the ball, and he was always saying grow the pitch grow the pitch. You always have to attack, but there’s the counter-pressure, the effort you have to make from the start to the end of the match, and for him, that’s something that’s very important. To be honest with him, I’ve learned to love making those efforts.
When we see you, do we think of another player?
I know there are a lot of comparisons. Of course I draw inspiration from certain players. But today, I’m Désiré Doué and I also want to write my name in soccer history.
