Julien Escudé, Ajax Amsterdam's central defender,
savours his dutch title
Struggling with a recently acquired ankle injury, Julien
Escudé watched the decisive game against Breda from
the stands. But at 24, the former Rennes player did not
appreciate the first title of his career any less because of
it, at a legendary club with which he scored once this year
in 50 games this season.
In your first
season at Ajax, you win the championship. Did you expect such
a success?
Well, not really. In
particular because we were out as soon as the first round of
the Champions' League. Everybody then was thinking that it
was going to be easy and then we finished fourth (behind
Milan AC, Celta Vigo and Club Brugge in group H).... Just
after that we were defeated in the Cup, and then twice in
championship. Fortunately the winter break allowed us to
start afresh. And given that the only goal remaining was the
shield, we just focused on that one.
You replaced
Chivu in the center of defence. This succession must have
been hard, was it not?
This guy is tough to
replace, and I don't think I've replaced him yet so far. He
was the captain and he was scoring a lot. I came here to play
my role in the team, to do more than I was doing in Rennes.
The coach (Ronald Koeman) has always trusted me. He signed me
and throughout the season he tried as much as possible to
turn me into the defensive leader. I've been the most used
player, that helped a lot in the process.
How would he
help you, exactly?
In the beginning he
made me do tactical work on the chalkboard. Now he only
insists on little details, like the way I should deal with
one-on-ones and stuff.... But you know, when he plays with
us, it's a treat. He is still amazing. Even if he doesn't run
much, I realize the difference that can exist between a good
player and a great player, like him. He has vision, he sees
the spaces before anybody else does. And there is also Ruud
Krol and Van Basten. They have an aura, they inspire respect.
I remember one time, we played against the second team and
Van Basten was playing as a forward. I was marking him and
suddenly I realized: "What am I doing ? It's unbelievable!
Even if he has lost some of his physical ability, I swear the
technique is still there..." (laughs)
What are the
main differences between the French and the Dutch
championship?
When I came here I
found really well-structured clubs. Not once did I hear a
player complaining. In France every team can beat everybody.
Here there is a larger gap between the top teams and the rest
of the first division. Tactically, almost every team plays
4-3-3, with a forward and two wingers. Consequently in
defence it is always two-on-one duels.
You don't
regret your choice....
No, here it's a treat
for me. When I hear Krol yelling at the defenders to build up
play and not hoof the ball into the stands, to get the ball
out playing simple and tidy football, I think to myself:
"That's the way I want to see football played." I kind of
discover all those things. In France players are more
self-centered. Here there is respect, love for the jersey,
love for the game. And at the end of my career I'll be able
to say: "I played at Ajax."
Wasn't your
choice of Ajax against MU a problem regarding the French
selection? (Julien Escudé was called up to
the French preliminary squad this season. -ed.)
To tell you the truth,
back then I didn't believe I could go to Manchester United,
play 45 matches and get selected for France. Euro 2004 wasn't
my priority. It would have been wanting too much too soon.
That is why I came here, to work. After Euro 2004, I'll have
2/3 years to improve. My goal is to have a better season next
year, then we'll see.
