Nicolas Pépé, what state of mind are you in before facing Real Madrid on Saturday?
Nicolas Pépé: After our good start to the season, I am feeling good and in a good state of mind. A big match awaits us against Real Madrid. It is the second who receives the third. We are preparing well for this meeting and to try to come back with a good result.
Opposite, there will be a response with Antonio Rüdiger or Aurélien Tchouaméni. How do you plan to fare against these adversaries?
NP: It’s true that we are going to play one of the best teams in the world. It’s going to be interesting to be pitted against Antonio Rüdiger. I’ve faced him before so I know how to play.
Villarreal are currently third in La Liga. Are you aiming for the Top 4 at the end of the season?
NP: It is certain that we must aim for Europe. Given the quality of this squad, we must aim as high as possible.
On a personal level, you have had a very good start to the season with Villarreal. How do you explain this return to form after several difficult years?
NP: I’m having a good start to the season and I can do even better. I didn’t have any summer preparation but I was able to adapt very quickly with this group who welcomed me very well. Unfortunately, a minor injury prevented me from playing two matches but I was able to return to the field quickly.
You have created several chances during your last matches. You seem to be in good shape physically…
NP: There is the physical state but also the mental aspect. When you are given a lot of confidence, it becomes a lot easier for any player. When teammates trust you, it’s easier to express yourself and move. I try to learn the language quickly to adapt as efficiently as possible. Then, on the pitch, there is footballing language. And with the players in this squad, I can understand them well.
You evoke the trust of your partners. Do you also feel that of your coach, Marcelino?
NP: Of course. That’s what convinced me to come here. Before things happened, I had a phone conversation with him. He spoke to me a lot about the football aspect and the non-sporting life. That convinced me. Marcelino has a big heart. He’s a coach who manages to give a lot of confidence to all his players because he knows it matters and that’s the case for me anyway. I also have a lot of sessions with his video assistants, to understand the reason for making this or that move and know how to help my partner get the ball in this or that area. Here, I find this taste for pleasure and relearning a new football culture.
Did he insist that Villarreal sign you?
NP: Clearly, yes. In fact, things happened quite quickly. Éric Bailly called me to tell me that the coach had inquired about me. He asked him what I planned to do: continue my career in Europe or rather in the Gulf countries. What mattered to me was the club’s project. Then, once I got Marcelino on the phone, it happened quickly.
Nicolas Pépé feels the confidence of his partners at Villarreal.
Credit: Getty Images
Marcelino told me: ‘if you find that desire to make the effort, you will be rewarded’. This sentence stuck with me and so far, it’s working
In his speech, did he say anything that particularly struck you?
NP: At one point, he said: ‘if you find that desire to make the effort again, you will be rewarded’. This sentence stuck with me and so far, it’s working. We’re all having fun together, we’re third. It’s good and we must continue like this.
Marcelino stayed barely two months on the OM bench. In what areas does he excel?
NP: He is a coach who likes to have possession of the ball very often even if we face very big teams. Also, the reaction of the players after losing the ball is essential for him. Furthermore, when we can counter, we do it because we have the players for it.
Do you have the impression that the Arsenal chapter (2019-2022) is definitely behind you?
NP: Arsenal remains a big step forward in my career. Playing with the Gunners remains unforgettable. I won titles (the Cup and the Community Shield in 2020) with this great club so it’s not a bad adventure either. I only remember the good things. The Arsenal chapter, I wouldn’t say what it is behind me but rather that it will accompany me until the end of my career.
I turned the page on Arsenal. I have no hard feelings against Mikel Arteta
After your very good 2018-19 season at Lille, you chose to join Arsenal despite requests from Naples. Do you regret your choice today?
NP: No, not at all. At the time, I had a discussion with Unai Emery which lasted almost an hour. He took the time to explain to me how he planned to incorporate me into the team. That clearly convinced me. You mention Naples, for the anecdote, I had also spoken with Carlo Ancelotti but the call lasted four or five minutes. For me, that made the difference.
Did you find it difficult to bear the amount of the transfer (80 million euros) to Arsenal?
NP: No. It was not me who decided to put in this amount. That’s how it is, that’s the market. Now it is becoming more and more common. Afterwards, considering the reviews, it was frustrating for me but personally, it didn’t impact me that much.
Do you blame Mikel Arteta today for your lack of playing time at the end of your adventure with the Gunners?
NP: Honestly, I have moved on. I have no resentment. Honestly, I wish him the best.
Social networks are very, very dangerous for the mental health of players. To save face, you can say that none of this affects you, but when you go home, you know very well that it affects you unconsciously.
In an interview given last July to The teamyou said you thought about stopping your career because of the online hatred you were the victim of. When did you almost make this decision?
NP: It was the summer of 2020 after my first season at Arsenal. All these criticisms frustrated me. When you are frustrated or even tense, you are no longer the same on the field. Personally, after cashing out, I reached a limit. From the moment it hit my family, it was different. In the morning, I didn’t want to go to training and play matches. Fortunately, I had a good entourage who was there for me. It’s thanks to these people that I continued. Then it got better from the second season.
How did this online hatred materialize on a daily basis?
NP: Unfortunately, it has become a fashion to attack this or that player like that to gain insight. But these people do not realize the nastiness they transmit. Even former players taking down current players can be traumatic. They must not forget that they were in our shoes before.
Should clubs better prepare players to deal with this phenomenon?
NP: I think that young players should be made aware from the training center. Social media is very, very dangerous for their mental health. To save face, you can say that none of this affects you, but when you go home, you know very well that it affects you unconsciously. This has an impact on the quality of your performances because it is traumatic. Players are exposed for this and not much has been done to stop the harassers. I hope that there will be more prevention in the long term in the clubs.
I don’t want to show others that Nicolas Pépé has returned. I am keen to show myself that I am capable of performing
During the 2022-23 season, you were loaned to Nice. Injuries prevented you from playing in matches. How do you view this period?
NP: My time in Nice was mixed. At club level, it was very good, excellent. I was very well received. I met some very good players. The president (Jean-Pierre Rivère) made sure that I came. He was great. Concerning my performances on the field, I was bothered by these injuries (editor’s note: to a knee then to a calf between January and April 2023). This prevented me from developing to the fullest. During this quarter-final return of C4 against Berne, I played almost on one foot. Things are going really bad for me because my injury is getting worse.
How did you feel about your missed opportunity against the Bern goalkeeper at the Allianz Riviera?
NP: On this occasion, I did not choose the right foot because I was afraid of hurting myself. Clearly, I couldn’t shoot with my right foot because my injury was on my right knee. Maybe if I had shot with my right foot, I would have relapsed for five or six months. My teammates knew it. But not the fans. When people don’t know, they can criticize or insult. My regret is that the Nice fans judged me on one match. But they didn’t have all the elements.
Nicolas Pépé (Nice) shone against Montpellier, Wednesday January 11, 2023. / Ligue 1
Credit: Getty Images
After all these experiences, do you feel vindictive today with Villarreal?
NP: Frankly, I’m not at all vengeful. I spent the 2023-24 season in Türkiye (Trabzonspor) where I was a little forgotten. Personally, I know what I’m worth. I don’t want to show others that Nicolas Pépé has returned. I am keen to show myself that I am capable of performing.
