His integration, Leonardo Jardim, 2004… Our exclusive interview with Eric Dier | OneFootball

Having arrived in the Principality at the end of May, the English central defender took advantage of the pre-season training camp to talk about his arrival, his career and his knowledge of AS Monaco.

Like everyone else, he was entitled to his hazing. And ironically, it was at home, in England, that ’Eric Dier sang Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” at the team’s camp at St. George’s Park,in front of all his teammates and the AS Monaco staff. It was therefore between two training sessions and before taking his first steps with the Rouge et Blanc against Coventry (0-5), that the new number 3 confided in us at length. Interview 🎙️

Hello Eric. To start, tell us about the time you had to sing in front of your teammates for the traditional hazing.

It was good, especially since I’m experienced, so I know you have to go first (smiles)! It’s a really nice moment; it’s one of the things that helps everyone integrate, and it’s fun too. It’s also nice to be here on camp with the team because we all spend time together, which allows us to get to know everyone, so it’s great.

I must admit it's a strange feeling to be here, especially since I've never been here with a club. I've obviously been here many times with the Three Lions, so I know the place very well. But it's nice to be here, especially since it's a perfect place to train, with fantastic facilitie

Eric DierOn the camp at St. George's Park

What’s it like to be back here at the England national team’s base camp?

I must admit it’s a strange feeling to be here, especially since I’ve never been here with a club. I’ve obviously been here many times with the Three Lions, so I know the place very well. But it’s nice to be here, especially since it’s a perfect place to train, with fantastic facilities! And it’s not as hot as in Monaco (smiles)…

Do you think this camp can accelerate your integration into the group?

Yes, definitely! As I said, it makes things a lot easier because you’re with your teammates and the staff every day, including during meals, and not just at training. We spend a lot of time together, so it’s something I was really looking forward to, to get to know everyone… and remember everyone’s first names already (laughs)! It’s really nice and, above all, very important.

Personally, you speak several languages (English, Portuguese, and some Spanish and German). Does that also help you integrate and facilitate communication with everyone?

Yes, I sincerely believe so, 100%! I always say that languages have helped me enormously in my career and in my relationships with people. Speaking Portuguese, for example, allows me to communicate with Brazilians and some members of staff. I also manage to communicate in Spanish with Ansu (Fati). It definitely helps you connect with people, so yes, it’s a fantastic gift.

I found a very professional environment, as I expected, with the staff and everyone who works at the Club. I'm not surprised, because I expected it to be very professional, a real working environment. I understood that through my discussions with the management and the coach, but I'm happy that it's been confirmed in practice.

Since arriving at the Club, what are your first impressions?

Very good! It’s nice because it’s a young team, and I’m not used to being one of the oldest, as I think only Paul (Pogba) is older than me (smiles). It’s a new experience for me, but it’s nice because it gives me new energy. I like it, especially since I found a very professional environment, as I expected, with the staff and everyone who works at the Club. I’m not surprised, because I expected it to be very professional, a real working environment. I understood that through my discussions with the management and the coach, but I’m happy that it’s been confirmed in practice. Now I just want to work to prepare myself as best as possible with everyone for the season.

What do you think of the quality of this squad?

I think there’s a lot of quality here, indeed, with plenty of room for improvement given the team’s youth. So there’s room to develop this squad, which is always very exciting. And I think that, regardless of my age, you can always improve, always progress, and that’s actually a personal goal. Collectively, I think it’s clear that the Club’s desire and ambition is to take the next step forward and do even better than last season, to take another step forward. And I can’t wait to work towards that goal!

Is one of your goals to give some advice to younger people, so they can benefit from your experience?

Of course, even though I’m not a “teacher” (laughs)! But above all, I want to focus on my own behavior and setting a good example. More than words, I think that’s the most important thing: showing things before talking. I really like trying to improve myself, to be the best version of myself!

It's a club with a great history above all! As I said during my presentation, I think my first memory is of the 2004 Champions League final against Porto. Growing up in Portugal, it was obviously a big event there, especially with José Mourinho.

Eric DierOn his first memory of AS Monaco

However, I would be delighted to be able to help other players progress, develop, and become better. I think that should always be your goal in life! The best thing is to see that you are making progress and improving; that is the most rewarding thing. I will try to do it personally and help others, to once again reach a new level compared to last season.

What does AS Monaco represent to you?

It’s a club with a great history above all! As I said during my presentation, I think my first memory is of the 2004 Champions League final against Porto. Growing up in Portugal, it was obviously a big event there, especially with José Mourinho.

We imagine that the supporters of Sporting, your youth team, must have been rooting for the Rouge et Blanc…

Oh yes, we all supported Monaco, that’s for sure (laughs)! But there are also so many great players who have played here, whether they came out of the youth system or just came through the club. It’s always been a team I’ve followed, because many Portuguese players I knew have also played here. I repeat, it’s a club with a lot of history, an iconic team! And it’s a jersey that everyone around the world knows, with the Diagonale. If I have to talk about the present, I was very enthusiastic about what the management and the coach told me, what they expect from me and what they want to do, to continue building here. That’s also why I was very motivated from the start by the idea of coming here.

You played against this team in 2016-2017. What do you remember about it?

It was a long time ago, I was 22 or 23, I think! So my memories are very vague, but I remember that the coach at that time was one of the ones I had at Sporting Lisbon, Leonardo Jardim. João Moutinho, who was already a professional when I was with Sporting’s youth team, was also there. I think the matches didn’t go well for us, is that right (he says ironically)?

What did Leonardo Jardim bring you, exactly?

I was very young at the time, only 18 or 19. He was very important to me at a key moment in my development. He was a very demanding coach, who pushed you hard, and like all my coaches between the ages of 18 and 20, he had a big impact on me. I think every coach you work with leaves a mark on different aspects of your life.

know he was a great player, especially during his time with Tottenham, where I also played for a long time. And I must say that it's quite rare for English players to go abroad. But for me, it's fantastic to have an experience in another country, in another league...

Did you know that you’re the fourth English player to play for AS Monaco?

No, I didn’t know (smiles), even though I knew about Glenn Hoddle obviously. I know he was a great player, especially during his time with Tottenham, where I also played for a long time. And I must say that it’s quite rare for English players to go abroad. But for me, it’s fantastic to have an experience in another country, in another league… In my personal and professional life, I like this kind of challenge, adapting to a different place and another culture as well. I find it very exciting! The fact that football is different from one country to another is really very interesting for me. And obviously, in my personal life too, living in different countries and having different experiences is also very enriching..

What can you say about Ligue 1 McDonald’s?

I have to play it first to answer that question (laughs)! Watching it, you can only observe one game, I think you really have to experience this league to understand it better. But what I can say from what I observed last season is that Paris Saint-Germain, who came from this league, won the Champions League! Besides, the fight for places in the Champions League was fierce, and I was really behind AS Monaco, hoping the club would qualify for this major competition; it was really exciting. The fact that so many clubs are fighting for these places shows the competition there is in this league. It’s something I found very interesting. So I’m really looking forward to discovering Ligue 1, and I’ll be able to give a better answer in a few weeks. But what is certain, however, is that there is a huge amount of talent in France, a lot of talented young players. And then France is a football country, a sporting country in general, it’s something that I love and that I can’t wait to discover.

What can you tell us about your first name?

Are you talking about Eric Cantona? I don’t really know if the idea for my first name came from him. At the time, he was already a legend, and I adored him growing up! I always had his jersey with that famous upturned collar. When I was a kid, I adored him, he was an incredible character.

Is sport in your family’s DNA?

I think we simply love sports. Personally, I love a lot of sports; I think it’s my greatest passion in life. Even outside of football, I really enjoy watching and playing other sports. Which ones? I would say tennis, the NBA, golf, which I play a little, but also the UFC. It’s something that’s always been part of my family, with my grandfather, my father, and my brothers too, who are very athletic. It’s something I grew up with, and I think it helped me on my journey to becoming a professional.

Are you really superstitious before matches like we’ve heard?

Yes, but they’re just silly things (laughs)! Most footballers are superstitious, but these are just silly little things that I always like to do before a match. The list is very long, but I handle it better now. I think I’ve managed to shorten it (smiles). I just like to always prepare the same way before every match; it’s important to me.

My greatest inspiration in sport in general has always been Rafael Nadal! I don't know why, but I've never really had a footballer as a role model

Eric DierOn his sporting idols

Has becoming a professional footballer always been a dream of yours?

(He answers spontaneously) Yes! I don’t really remember how old I was, but from the time I joined Sporting Lisbon at eight until I arrived at the academy at 13, I’ve always dreamed of it. Especially when you join the youth teams, you train where the professionals train, and you can see them up close. So from the moment I moved at 13, I just wanted to go onto those pitches and make my debut. My whole life revolved around that! It was my only dream at the time, and then when you accomplish it, you go from one dream to the next. I was very lucky!

Who were your inspirations?

My greatest inspiration in sport in general has always been Rafael Nadal! I don’t know why, but I’ve never really had a footballer as a role model. There were definitely players who were at Sporting at the time that I tried to emulate, like captain Pedro Barbosa, because I really liked his style of football. Then there was a Brazilian defender named Anderson Polga. Growing up there, these were people I admired. But by far, my only real idol has always been Rafael Nadal. I’ve never looked up to a footballer the way I looked up to him!

You were just talking about your dream of becoming a footballer and your passion for sport. Can you tell us a little about your role as an ambassador for the Sported association?

I’m glad you asked me this question because it’s something very important to me, because it’s a charity that uses sport to try to help children, as a means of self-development. I’m a big believer in Sported because I think sport can help you develop many skills that aren’t just related to playing sports. I’m also thinking of the social skills you can learn, such as how to handle the feeling of disappointment when you lose. Learning respect, teamwork, and being able to be sociable in a group are also important. I think sport teaches you many valuable lessons that you can use in any aspect of your life. Sported also offers children a safe place to go after school. In fact, I’ve visited some of their centers in London several times. And it’s amazing to see what true heroes these people are! They dedicate their lives to children, wherever they are in the country, providing them with a safe place and teaching them discipline, respect, and many important values. They’re helping to educate these children; it’s truly amazing!

What can we wish you for this season?

Health, first of all, because that’s truly the most important thing (he smiles, touching wood)! Then, I think that both individually and collectively, improvement must always be the number one goal.

Yes, of course. I'm very excited to meet them and play at the Stade Louis-II too! I can see it from my apartment, so I'm really looking forward to playing my first minutes there.

Are you looking forward to meeting your new supporters?

Yes, of course. I’m very excited to meet them and play at the Stade Louis-II too! I can see it from my apartment, so I’m really looking forward to playing my first minutes there.

Did you know that the team always receives a lot of away support?

Yes, I’ve already heard about it. I’m also looking forward to discovering new stadiums, and of course, meeting our fans on the road. I like seeing different venues and different fans. So I’m looking forward to seeing our supporters, but I’m also excited to discover Ligue 1 McDonald’s.