Interview

Dante: “You can’t doubt”

The first two weeks of work with the new staff, the new shape of the squad, his personal ambitions and those of the team...  On the eve on his third season in the Nice shirt - and his second as captain - Dante spoke at length about the Gym’s news. With the humility and determination that characterise him.  

Dante, what do you make of the first two weeks of training? 

A positive impression in terms of the intensity we have put in, for the coach’s ideas that we are beginning to understand. We are also discovering some youngsters who are showing their quality. Despite the departures of several important players, we have worked well. 

How has the squad reacted to these departures? 

We are trying to not let it affect our preparation, even though, when there are players that leave, you always feel it. It’s down to us to adapt and to make sure that nothing damages our work, because we need all of the squad to have a great season.  

A new generation of senior players will come to stand alongside you..  

Of course. Wylan (Cyprien) is used to that, he is a guy who has that leadership instinct inside of him, he was captain at Lens and, despite the fact that he is young, took on his responsibilities. Pierre (Lees-Melou) is a model example, works hard, and everyone likes him. And then there are others: Christophe Jallet has lots of experience; Souquet is a great role model. You can also take Cardi as an example, even though he was playing less at the end of last season.

What do you make of a pre-season with 100% of the work with the ball?

I have already experienced that in the past, it's different and very interesting, especially for the body. Sometimes, you need to adapt, to put everything in place. I am used to doing physical work with the ball, it's very tough. I laugh all the time because I am used to saying that we do "hidden work". You think that you are playing, when in fact you are running, using a lot of energy, multiplying the recovery runs, the effort you put in to reorganise. These are things that we will need in matches.

"Vieira reminds me of the big coaches that I have worked with"

What relationship do you have with the coach? 

A very humble relationship. I make myself available to help him to put his methods into action. He has worked with a lot of good coaches and his philosophy makes me think of the attitude of other big coaches that I have worked with...

Which ones?

There's a bit of Guardiola, Favre, Heynckess… With Pep Guardiola, we never worked without the ball. He said that the game is played with the ball, even though you have to make lots of runs without it. 

You are used to speaking several languages... Now, you are even speaking English in training…

It's the same song for everybody. Those that don't speak English will work at it, and those that have just arrived will learn French. It's an exchange of languages, cultures, philosophies: it's very enriching.

"In Brazil, everybody has known Danilo since he was 13 or 14 years old"

What can you tell us about Danilo, the most recent Brazilian arrival at the Gym? 

He is a player that everybody has known in Brazil since he was 13 or 14 years old. Everybody wanted him - and wants - him to take off, he played all of his youth career in the national side, for a long time he was captain. Mentally, he is very strong, he has a pretty difficult backstory. And at the same time, he is very humble. I am happy to have him with us. He knows where he wants to go and what he needs to do in order to get there. And the most important thing, he is ready to make the effort. 

You are an experienced player, but we get the feeling that you are full of freshness.

I respect my age, not my body. I know that sometimes I need to relax, but I don't allow my body to relax. Even on holiday, I try to keep myself in shape in order to arrive here ready to have a good pre-season. I still have that desire, that joy to be in the squad, to train, to get up early in the morning, to go out to push my limits... That's why I continue to stay the same. I enjoy every second, every day, with lots of joy and intensity, because I prefer to make the most of today instead of waiting for tomorrow. 

"A period of transition"

Enjoyment also comes through winning. Do you already think about the season that is approaching?

It's a bit difficult to speak about the league. You need to be clear and realistic with our objectives. We are going through a period of transition, we have lost the coach and 5 players that were more or less guaranteed starters. We all need to concentrate, be patient and calm. Then, it will be time to see the players that arrive and to find new ways. It's not an excuse, we move forward, but it is a reality. When you see Real win the Champions League for the third consecutive year with more or less the same team, it shows that in football, there are no secrets. It doesn't mean that we won't get results, but it's better to say that the season will be very difficult, to think about playing, progressing and taking each match as a mission. That's the only way we will move forward, and maybe then we can step up to make the season easier.

Banning looking too far ahead then?

You need to take it step by step, to believe, to remain positive until the end and, once again, not to doubt. The new staff have proved that they are capable of helping us to evolve. So we continue the work with humility and we are doing the necessary in order to be ready, because the French league is always more difficult. 

Is L1 different now from the one you experienced when you arrived in Lille?

Of course, it has changed. Everyone invests, big names have arrived, Neymar, Buffon… Before, when talking about the opposition, you only spoke of two tight lines of four. Today, even the "small teams", transform their systems, become more flexible, and play more quickly. Nobody is happy just to "counter the opponent". There are coaches who are capable of making teams play, to win matches... Yes, it's really very, very, different from what I first experienced.

"To end my career at the Gym? I say yes"

After two different seasons with the Gym, do you still get as much pleasure from playing?

I like the challenge, I always need something new so that I don't fall into my comfort zone, in order to keep that excitement. Here, I have it. I will even say something to you: although it doesn't just depend on me, of course, but if today you ask me: "Would you be happy to finish your career at the Gym in a couple of years?"; I would say yes.

Why?

Because we have created a beautiful story and it's far from being finished...

Did you think that it would go like this before arriving here?

Honestly, no. I knew the stadium a bit, I knew that the fans were fully behind the team. But then, to experience emotions like we have been through, no. I think about the first year, of course, but in the second too, because we started badly, we came back, we qualified for the Round of 32 of the Europa League, these are all emotions... Good or bad moments, I live everything fully, with huge intensity. Even though I have won other very important things, I am delighted to be able to help the club to reach certain objectives and to settle itself at a certain level.

"I enjoy myself when there is pressure"

You mention the difficult period last year. Can you explain it to us?

What excites me is to be able to show my character, even when we are in tough times. I enjoy myself when there is pressure, doubt. It pushes me to work even harder. To push myself to the limit. I won the Champions League, but that's in the past. If I qualify with the Gym for the Round of 32 of the Europa League, it's sensational. For me and for the fans. The important thing is to live that moment, as if I needed to prove my qualities to everybody. That's my mentality, and it's at that point that I enjoy myself, I wouldn't change anything about this demanding nature, for the risk of disappointing certain people with setting a bad example. I don't want that. I want to continue to go to the very bottom of everything I do and to have a few more good years. In order to do that, you need to work hard, to be serious, to look after my body off of the pitch, to set a good example, to help others. Because if the others are good, I will become even better. My demanding nature, it's to prove that I can continue to play and help the squad.