He readily admits that discovering that his two former clubs will be playing against each other has “do a little something”. AS Monaco and FC Barcelona, who are facing off in the opening match of the Champions League, this Thursday, September 19 at the Stade Louis-II (9 p.m.), are part of Philippe Christanval’s history. It was in the Principality that the former French international defender (6 caps) started out as a professional, before joining Catalonia at the beginning of the century.
His preference goes to ASM – “That’s where I was trained, the sentimental side prevails” -, but he doesn’t only have bad memories of Barça, where he arrived as a great hope of French football, without ever managing to impose himself. The Parisian gives us some news and looks back on his (short) career, rounded off by experiences at OM and Fulham. Interview.
What are you becoming?
I live on the Côte d’Azur. I advise one or two players, with the aim of helping them progress on technical, physical, tactical and mental aspects. But I work above all in real estate investment.
Where does this passion for real estate come from?
From the family, on my mother’s side. Most of my uncles work in construction and, when I went on holiday to Guadeloupe, I saw them working on houses, building… They inspired me, and even before the end of my career: as soon as we went on a club trip, I bought magazines on real estate at the airport, I did some research. It took hold of me very early.
You have a stadium named after you in Sarcelles. It’s a source of pride, we imagine…
Definitely! It’s symbolic because it’s on this field that I started playing football. I was quite young when it happened, it was in 2000 (he was 21 years old), the mayor’s proposal really surprised me.
You left for Clairefontaine at a very young age. Wasn’t being away from your family too difficult?
Honestly, no. I never felt sad. I was already determined, I knew what I wanted, and finding myself at Clairefontaine with an exceptional setting, pitches and coaches, a 100% football environment… We had a great generation with Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, Grégory Proment, Alioune Touré… We managed to keep in touch via a WhatsApp group, with all the former INF players.
“And then he tells me that I’m going to start against Juve…”
After Clairefontaine, you went to Monaco and, to everyone’s surprise, played in the Champions League semi-final against Juventus in 1998…
It was a huge surprise. The previous weekend, I was playing with the reserve team, I was young. I remember very well, the first team had played on Saturday evening against Guingamp and Franck Dumas had been injured. The next day, when I arrived at the training center, the physiotherapist and the assistant coach (Jean Petit) looked at me with a smile. I didn’t understand why. I was directed to the locker room, where the coach, Jean Tigana, was. And there, he told me that I was going to start against Juve… At the time, they were the best team in Europe.
The pressure must not have been easy to handle, you were still very young…
The day before the match, I had to go to the doctor, who gave me some pills to try to sleep. I couldn’t do it, there was a mixture of anxiety and excitement. A Champions League semi-final is not common. Especially against Del Piero, Zidane, Inzaghi, Davids… I was used to seeing them on TV. In the corridor, when I looked to my right and saw them, 10,000 things went through my head. You realise how far we’ve come.
Among the other memorable memories in Monaco, this title of French champion in 2000, obviously…
It’s the best memory of my career. Being champion with your training club… I was also voted best hopeful of the championship, the year was magnificent. We had a team and a generation of madness, great players like Gallardo, Marco Simone, David Trezeguet… We walked on water. It’s the best team I’ve played in.
The feeling of being in the suburbs of Paris
The party must have been memorable!
We filmed in Monaco by car, then we went to a nightclub and, the next day, we were received by Prince Albert. It was great!
You were present during the famous fight between Marcelo Gallardo and Christophe Galtier, in the Vélodrome tunnel in 2000.
Marcelo was a truly exceptional player, he had a magnificent season. But, in his game, he liked to tease and get on the nerves of others. Marseille were in great difficulty, in the last of the championship, while we were almost certain to be champions. He was teasing. He’s Argentinian, he likes atmospheres like the Vélodrome… The guys tried to cut him up, to intimidate him. It was complete nonsense. Today, I don’t think that could happen, because there are cameras everywhere. I felt like I was in the suburbs of Paris.
After Monaco, you continued your career at FC Barcelona…
When Barça knocks on the door, it’s hard to refuse. The directors came to Monaco to talk to me, they really wanted me. The club offered a technical game, which corresponded with my qualities. Everything was in place for me to sign there.
And yet, you almost let Barça down…
I had a big hot flash, just before signing. I had called Jean Tigana, he was advising me at that time and was coaching Fulham. I was afraid of not having the…
