Youri Djorkaeff – I was the precursor of 9.5

Nine years after hanging up his boots in the New York side, Major League Soccer, Youri Djorkaeff back on his rich career in an interview with the website SoFoot. A long interview in which the former French international (46), world champion in 1998 with the Blues, particularly evokes his debut in the first division, Monaco in 1990, and his relationship with Arsene Wenger, who led the ASM that time.

“With Wenger, it was great, he recalls. I was 21, I had some kind of game, automation. Wenger wanted people on the side, in the middle … I, you let me five minutes on the side! Or you told me to stay in the middle and I was right, left. It has taken the lead with Arsene, but we had a good exchange. I also learned the trade it. There are some requirements to get on the field, I learned them with him. ” “Journalists did not know where to hide”

Also passed by the PSG, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen, the “Snake” has always had a special position in the field. Both offensive and attacking areas. “At one point, the journalists did not know where to hide, he said. At the time, we went out of the Platini era. It was a relief, a new number 10. I certainly do not want to have a label and be someone’s successor. I was the precursor of 9.5. ”

A role that allowed him to record 28 goals in 82 appearances for the tricolor jersey. “One day, I was asked what position I played I said.” Hein 9.5 what “.”? What is it? “It pissed me off because he had to explain. There is no need to explain, he adds. When you’re attacking, your job is to score. I saw full of young players arrive in the France team who told me that my behavior on the pitch and off it had inspired. “