Julien Escude, February 2004
As usual
during our annual pilgrimage to Amsterdam, Ajax was kind
enought to set up some exclusive interviews for Ajax USA. One
of the players we were particularly interested in was
Julien Escudé, one of Ajax's more
prestigious new signings of this season. The left-footed French
defender was targeted by many European clubs, but -- and this
has become a rare thing in modern football -- chose for the
club and the city that simply gave him the best
feeling.
Who could do a better job at interviewing the friendly
Frenchman than his countryman and Ajax USA's best friend in
France, Bertrand Chardon? On Friday, 06
February 2004, two days prior to the critical home fixture
versus PSV, Bertrand and Escudé met in the press
room of the Amsterdam ArenA and had a pleasant chat in their
native tongue. Luckily, Bertrand was also kind enough to
translate it into English for us all...
Bertrand Chardon: You were expected to be
Chivu's successor in Amsterdam. How did that expectation affect
you after your arrival? Was it an extra motivation for
you, or did you experience it as extra pressure?
Julien Escudé: Well, before signing
my contract I had contact with the two coaches, Ruud Krol and
Ronald Koeman. We talked seriously about their expectations of
me. Then I thought all of that over and I decided that
it was a great goal to try to get a permanent spot in the
Ajax defense. But replacing Chivu, who is one the best
defenders in Europe, isn't an easy thing to do.
BC: He's doing really well now at
AS Roma...
JE: Yeah. He's got many qualities. But I
have mine. He is playing at a high level, whereas I was playing
at a pretty average level at Stade Rennes... In a way that's
why I came here: in order to learn. The staff proposed for me
to come because they thought I have certain
qualities.
BC: The presence of Krol and Koeman, former
Ajax players and club legends, must have been a key
factor.
JE: Yes. Those wonderful coaches
were a reason for me to join, that's true. I thought: they
saw my qualities, they know that I can do a really good job and
add something to the squad. I am now really happy to be part of
this adventure.
Julien Escudé responds to
a question from Ajax USA's Bertrand Chardon. [Photo: Ajax
USA]
BC: When you left Rennes for Ajax, did you
regard that as a long term objective or rather as a step on
your way to a higher level?
JE: In fact, I can totally relate to the
club's over-all philosophy. They produce lots of players at
this great youth academy. Those players often leave for clubs
elsewhere in Europe at a very young age. Players rarely stay
with this club for seven or eight years, except for the old
Dutch legends from the past... But I know that I'm here to work
hard, improve technically and mentally in a team that
always plays to win the title and the cup and to
perform well in the Champions League. To me this is a higher
level than my French experience. In the meantime, I'm only 24
years old and I know that my career will be long and that I'll
probably leave for other skies one day.
BC: You're 24. I watched training this
morning and noticed that, along with Galásek, O'Brien
and Anastasiou, the new Greek player, you were actually one of
the oldest players on the pitch.
JE: Yeah, that's incredible... It's
interesting. When I tell my former team mates and
relatives that, they're all amazed by it. When you see the
quality of the players and you realize that they're often
younger than 20... I'm a young guy, but on the pitch I'm an old
one, so I try to talk to the players, even if it's difficult.
Just to reassure them, to give advice and to be respectful, so
that they know they can rely on me.
BC: Speaking of language problems... Has
your Dutch improved?
JE: (laughs) I'm taking lessons twice a
week. The coaches insist on that. I know all the football
basics now and I understand Koeman's pre-match speeches fairly
well. On the pitch it's mixed: both Dutch and English are
spoken. Some players speak French: the Belgians, Trabelsi and
also coach Ruud Krol (who played in France for many years,
ed.). Thanks to that, my integration in the team went just
fine, which really was a good thing.
BC: What were the greatest challenges for
you when you arrived?
JE: It was hard to keep up with the rhythm.
I tried to adjust to the Ajax style as much as possible. I
tried to fit into the club. This club represents so much in
Europe. It really is something for a French player to discover
that. It's my job now to do my best and to reach the highest
level I can.
BC: Has your collaboration with Krol and
Koeman had an impact on your style of playing?
JE: Yes. They give me a lot of advice. But
in fact, Ajax's play has always been very offensive-minded, so
we work a lot on the basics: skill, hard and quick passing,
with both feet. When you're playing for a big club
you just have to work on your weaknesses, so right now
I'm working on my right foot. The coaches are pushing me,
yelling: "right foot, right foot" (laughs). So now I try to do
stuff with my right.
BC: That's what I saw this morning during
training...
JE: It's really important. So is body
building. I didn't go to the gym when I played in France. I
should have. Now I try to build myself a strong body.
Julien Escudé in action
against ADO Den Haag, 01 February 2004 [Photo:
ANP]
BC: You said that Ajax style is more about
attacking than about defending. So why aren't you more involved
in attacks, like you were in both the French U-21 team and at
Stade Rennes?
JE: Firstly: I don't play in the same
position. At the time I was more of a left fullback. Now I play
in central defense. At Ajax a player must be very precise. You
can't move all the way out and attack. Koeman sometimes asks me
to be more offensive, with good thru-passes or long balls
rather than with dribbles. Sometimes I try to sneak forward,
but I haven't scored in a long time. Too bad.
BC: Do you perhaps lack confidence, because
you've only been here for seven months?
JE: Yeah, maybe... But I feel better now
than at the beginning of the season. I feel better since the
winter break. Wait and see.
BC: There have been many changes in the
back four lately. Did this affect your play?
JE: When you play with the same team all
the time it gets easier to learn about specific abilities of
your team mates. But our entire squad is so good that you
can easily replace two players without any problems. All those
youngsters from the youth academy are as good as the first team
players. Besides, I can play left fullback and Maxwell can play
in midfield, so Koeman has plenty of options. Lately I've been
playing most of my matches alongside Johnny Heitinga. He's a
really good, young and promising defender.
BC: What are the main differences in club
structure and management between the French clubs you've played
for and Ajax?
JE: At Cannes there were serious financial
problems, which kept us from concentrating on football. The
situation at Rennes was quite different: we had the money, but
the chairmen were doing nothing with it, buying unknown and
inefficient Brazilians for 20 million euros, for example. At
Ajax I get the chance to play for a club with a perfect
structure, a superb stadium and a very pleasant family spirit,
so hey, all you have to do is concentrate on football. The club
is really professional. You can feel the respect between all
the people working here. So I'm really happy to be here. As for
the level of play: it's a treat to be playing with such skilled
people.
BC: Finally, what about your
personal life in Amsterdam?
JE: That's just great! Me and my girlfriend
have grown very attached to living in Amsterdam. We try to
visit museums, discover good restaurants. Amsterdam is a very
cosmopolitan city and a great capital, with very nice and warm
people. We felt at home here really quickly.
Julien Escudé (right) and
Ajax USA's Bertrand Chardon. [Photo: Ajax USA]
BC: Thank you for answering our questions
and good luck in the remainder of the season.
JE: My pleasure. Thanks to all of the Ajax USA
travellers.
- Interview and transcript by
Bertrand Chardon.
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