Adrien Rabiot appeared before journalists a few minutes after the French team’s victory against Belgium (1-0), in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. The midfielder highlighted the solidity of the entire group in this match.
You are bound to be satisfied after this qualification…
Adrien Rabiot: “The adventure continues. We were very solid above all. We conceded very few goals. It’s a logical victory. We were quite clumsy in front of goal, we could have done better. We pushed until the end, we didn’t give up. We kept the confidence and this goal comes at the right time, because it’s a blow to them. 1-0 is enough to go through to the quarter-finals.”
Randal Kolo Muani has come to deliver you…
“His entry into the game really did us good. He came on very well. We said that substitutes could be important, we saw that tonight. It’s a group victory. Randal was very active, relieved us, gave 100%, defended, attacked. The counterattack, on the last action, where he got this foul, relieved us. He made a very good entry, but like the whole group, we were very involved, serious.”
Rabiot: “It was complicated to speed up the game”
Do you sometimes feel like you’re running out of juice, for example to change the pace?
“Juice? They (the Belgians) were very grouped together. It was complicated to be able to make changes of pace, find spaces. There was little depth, so it was complicated to speed up the game. We were still very solid and we didn’t let anything slip. To be at that level for 90 minutes, you have to be physically fit. Maybe we should ask some players, but from my point of view, that’s not the case.”
You have received a yellow card, which will cause you to miss the quarter-finals of the competition…
“I’m disappointed, disgusted. I didn’t feel like it was deserved. I think the referee had a little absence for a while. He’s the one who decides. I’m also confident, there are people on the bench. I hope to find my place in the semi-finals, I’ll be fully behind the team.”
Adrien Rabiot, in the mixed zone, after France-Belgium (1-0).
You have been working on a 4-4-2 diamond formation in the last few hours. Finally, you played a 4-3-3. Why?
“I don’t know. Maybe it was to mislead you. We talked about it and worked on it a little bit the day before the match (on this 4-4-2 system). The coach wanted to do it differently today, you should ask him. Antoine (Griezmann) was more on the right side to enter on his left foot. It’s a positioning he likes. Today, it worked for us. We are capable of adapting to several playing systems, we proved it again tonight.”
Rabiot: “Everyone was up to the task”
Are you surprised that the game system changed overnight?
“We are professionals, we are used to adapting. We communicate a lot among ourselves and with the coach. We know how to adapt and we have demonstrated it.”
How do you explain your ineffectiveness? Is it starting to get to your attackers’ heads?
“I don’t think so. The most important thing is that we manage to have situations and create opportunities. We were clumsy tonight, but I think it’s already a good thing to create opportunities. There will be a turning point. For now, it’s enough to win like this. There were times when everything went well for us, sometimes it’s a little less the case.”
What do you think of William Saliba’s performance?
“Being on the pitch, I found him very good but everyone was up to the task. They were very good defensively. Even Jules (Koundé) one-on-one with (Jérémy) Doku.”
Are you the big favourite to win this Euro 2024?
“I wouldn’t say that. There are quite a few teams who have done well. Spain has a very good level, produces a great game. Germany is also very solid, and plays at home and will not give up. Switzerland was very good and took out Italy, who has progressed in recent years. There is a level, and there are still games to play. These will be great quarter-finals to play.”
Adrien Rabiot, in the mixed zone, after France-Belgium (1-0).
: “The victory of a group”){kind=link}