Ligue 1 Meets: Ludovic Blas
What have you been up to since the last day of Ligue 1, on May 19?
I started by spending time with my family in the Paris region then I went on vacation to the United States. It was my first time there, I had to go there one day! I did New York and Miami. I was lucky because when I was in Miami, Inter Miami played against Atlanta United with Tristan Muyumba, with whom I was in Montrouge as a youth. Seeing a guy I grew up with face Messi, I couldn't miss it! And then, I left for Martinique, where I will stay until the restart, as usual.
As per usual?
Yes, I was born in the Paris region but I am from Martinique. My mother is from Martinique. Since I was little, I have gone to the island almost every year. It was even in Martinique that I took my first steps. When I was a child, there was a period when we came less because, financially, it was sometimes challenging. Now that I can come every year, I come every year. I have family all over the place but I’m from Saint-Pierre. Martinique is very present in my daily life, through the food and the little dishes that my mother makes me when she is there, through the music... What do I listen to? Lots of Kalash.
What do you do on vacation that you can't do during the season?
I don’t actually do anything (laughs). I try to let go. During the season, we are constantly thinking of football. And we have an image to maintain. As with everyone, vacations are good.
When you talk about your image, does that mean that as a player, you feel like you have to be careful all the time?
A little. On vacation too, you have to be careful. Without you realizing it, you can be filmed... We have to be careful to always set a good example because we represent a club, in addition to ourselves.
We often see footballers go on vacation together. Is this the case for you?
Of course. I went very often with Marcus Coco. Also with James Léa-Siliki. We went everywhere. Then, I already found myself in the same place as some. We didn't necessarily go together but we were happy to meet up there, like with Jean-Clair Todibo, Wylan Cyprien, or Castello Lukeba in Miami a few days ago.
Speaking of Miami, we sometimes have the impression that many players follow the same trends... There is Ibiza, Las Vegas, Dubai...
Everyone goes to the same place, it’s true. Everyone has their own thing but, with me, it’s simple, it’s Martinique! I prefer to go see the family. This year, I made the United States but it was really because my friend Tristan Muyumba was playing against Messi!
You are now 26 years old. When the season ends, do you feel particularly physically tired?
No. Physically, I'm okay. But mentally, there is fatigue. The season is long so when the end comes, you breathe and you try to enjoy, to let go, because it picks up quickly.
Even if you say you don't feel too much physical fatigue at the end of the season, do you feel the need to get back to work?
Yes, I do. And as soon as the club sends the recovery program, I get back to it. Now, we resume on June 27 with Rennes and we received an exercise program lasting almost four weeks. The physical trainer sends us everything we need by message and sometimes he calls us to give further explanations when necessary. Afterwards, we remain professional, we know what to do and above all what not to do to arrive in good shape when we resume.
Are you one of those players who needs a little time to get back on track after the restart?
If you follow the program sent you, there is no problem, no chance that you will be on the street! Now, it’s certain that when you’ve had a few days off, it feels weird when you start your first exercises. When you're younger, it's easier. Even if you don't do 100% of the exercises, you're not going to be on the street. But as you get older, you know what you need to do and you have to do a lot more than before because your body changes, it recovers a little less well...
During the first years of your career, at Guingamp, you played two competitions with the French youth teams during the summer, first the Euro U19 in 2016 then the U20 World Cup in 2017. That plays a lot on your condition upon resumption?
Not really. Generally, clubs are understanding and they let players summoned for international competitions resume later than the others, as will be the case with the Euros this summer. This was my case in Guingamp so it doesn't change much, you just have your vacation a little later.
Finally, is the recovery period a time of the season that you enjoy?
No (laughs). It’s complicated because your vacation ends and you start again with the period which is undoubtedly the most difficult! At first, it’s not always a pleasure!
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