The most capped player in the history of the French team, from the top of its 145 selections, Hugo Lloris is also the most diligent captain among the Blues, with no less than 121 armbands on his credit. Always very neutral in the speech against the press, the former international porter – who today ends his career on the side of Los Angeles – had a certain authority in the locker room nevertheless. Not without a few grip relays.
His favorite lining, Steve Mandanda, was one of those voices. And at a time when tributes are multiplying to greet a goalkeeper who has just decided to hang up the gloves, some do not hesitate to reveal that the iconic Olympian was a real boss in the intimacy of the French team.
This Thursday evening on the airwaves of RMC, the goalkeeper coach Nicolas Dehon, who has long accompanied him in his course, presents things as follows: ” Hugo Lloris played, but in the locker room, Steve Mandanda was number one. He was important, he brought something by his aura, by details … The 2018 World Cup, we also win it thanks to him! »»
“A regret” for Mandanda
Started with one step ahead of Hugo Lloris in the tricolor cage, Steve Mandanda – 35 capes all the same – could not preserve his number one rank in the eyes of Didier Deschamps. “” Yes it is a regret, but how to explain it? Maybe the pressure to defend a country. He also had the chance or bad luck to have Hugo Lloris just after him “Admit Nicolas Dehon.
In an interview with the Team on Wednesday, the neo-retired wanted to be more lucid on the issue. “” Even if I lived badly to lose this number one place, I really wanted it to myself. Easy, it would have been to accuse the media, the coach. No, no, Coach Domenech put me number one. I did not have my shoulders at that time to assume this status …
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