Baptiste Santamaria : « If you want to progress, you have to know how to listen. »

403 professional matches, how would you sum up your career? 
It's a great achievement! It means I've worked hard, and I need to keep going like this. Over and above my hard work, it's my resilience and the fact that I've never given up on anything that has enabled me to build up this record. Time, experience and the environment I've worked in have forged my character, and that's made all the difference.

What was that environment like? 
It was an environment where you had to work. I came from nothing, so I had to work my way up. I had a lot of encouragement from those close to me to achieve my goals. I started at the bottom and worked my way up quite quickly when I was young. I then joined the Châteauroux hopefuls centre, but didn't find a club when I left. I went back home to Bourges and four years later I turned pro. In football, things can go fast and you never give up.

And there's no room for discouragement once you've left the hope academy? 
Those two years at the centre weren't easy. Thirteen is a young age to leave the family cocoon. But I've made a huge amount of progress and it's helped me develop my character and my mindset. It's undoubtedly thanks to that that I've got where I am today. 
 

How confident, or hopeful, were you at the time? 
It's at these turning points that you realise whether you're cut out for it. If you give up for a moment, it will be complicated to aim higher. On the other hand, if you hang in there, you show everyone that you're ready to take the final step and overcome the professional world.

When you go beyond three seasons with a club, the relationship becomes serious. 
Apart from this season, I'm at a club that has managed to establish itself on the European stage. If I've managed to stay with Stade Rennais, it's because I'm performing well and the club is happy with me. You have to keep up the good work. What's more, the region is very pleasant and you feel good in Brittany. It's important to feel good about your surroundings, and I go by feel.

Where do you get this warrior streak from on the pitch? 
It's always been in me, I've always been hungry. That's how I got through it and how I continue to please people. It's part of my game and I think the fans appreciate it. I need to keep that attitude. Football is a team sport, but it's also an individual sport in the sense that you have to win your duels. That's something I like, winning them gives you satisfaction and helps get the team on the right track. When you start to have two or three players who win them, everyone gets on the same wavelength.

Are you one of the wise men in the dressing room?
That's a big word. In terms of the maturity of my game, I'd say yes, because today I can bring a lot of experience to the table. After that, I'm someone who likes to have a good laugh and get people going, so I think I need to keep my natural ability to bring people together in a good atmosphere, while being serious on the pitch. One can go hand in hand with the other. We have the intelligence to keep things separate. Off the pitch, we like to joke around with each other, which is important for bringing a group together. On the pitch, it's experience that can help you to be a leader, with the aim of guiding the younger players. Positioning in particular is something I enjoy doing.

You're quick to switch from fun to work...
Yes, Ronaldinho was someone who knew how to do both beautifully. He had this very jovial, laughing side, and then on the pitch he did some incredible decisive things. That obviously requires a lot of concentration and determination.

Do you know when you're too much of a joke? 
Generally speaking, it shows on my face. I can be closed down at half-time, especially if we haven't been good.

How do you pass on your experience? 
You have to be a good listener. At Stade Rennais, you come across intelligent players who are intelligent. The best thing is to see the results after giving them some advice. In general, young players realise that if they position themselves better, it's easier to win the ball back. Words, when they become advice, can carry a certain weight. Conversely, I like sharing with Steve, who has a wealth of experience. If you want to progress, you have to know how to listen.

You've always had to compete since you arrived, but your playing time has always been consistent. Does that stimulate you? 
I'm a competitor and I don't like being on the bench. I want to play and I do what it takes to play. A club like Stade Rennais has always had good players, so you have to do what it takes to be a starter. When you're good, there's no reason to be questioned. You have to be the best, but the competition has to be healthy and you have to think about the good of the team.  

Looking back, would you still be the same player if you hadn't spent a year in Germany? 
It was exceptional and enriching. I wanted to stay there but the opportunity arose to join a good French club. I jumped at the chance, but it wasn't what I wanted in the first place. It made me a better player because my year with Freiburg was very good, it was a great experience. As I said, I go by feel. He was very good with Stade Rennais and that's why I came back to France.
 

How do you feel at the moment?
Today I'm playing. As long as that's the way it is, that's fine (laughs).

Has your role as a midfielder changed over time? 
Systems and structures change. The position evolves, I play as a sentinel, or with another 6 on the flat, or a little higher up as an 8, you have to adapt. Things have changed since I started out. Today, the 6 is a back 10, he's more of a playmaker. At the time, the 6 was confined to recovering balls, but now we have to be involved in the recovery, the restart, just about everywhere...

You have to take the temperature and act as a barometer, setting the tone...
Yes, midfielders often dictate the tempo, between playing quickly and choosing between time in possession or recovery. Good pressing by a midfielder can also condition the game. 

What are your references in this position? 
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard inspired me. The person who played a role in my development was Bryan Bergougnoux. He was the big brother who gave me lots of advice. When I arrived at Angers, Thomas Mangani also helped me a lot. Two players I thought were under-rated.

What was your best game at Rennes? 
I'd choose Milan at home last season, a top match in which there was a huge outpouring of energy.

When do you know the match is going to be good? 
It's a collective thing. You can miss your first pass, but if the team is in it together, it's very easy to refocus. 

Talking of your body language, you don't get too carried away with things that go against you...
I don't think that making accusations or saying anything will change anything. You take a goal and you have to get up again. You have to know how to turn things around. The five minutes after a goal is scored or conceded are crucial. That's why I try to control myself. Of course you're disappointed when you concede a goal, but I don't show it. You have to get your team-mates into a winning frame of mind quickly.

It's the same when you take a bad knock or when tempers flare. 
Sometimes it's hard to control myself, so I prefer to walk away. I'm not quick to lose my temper, but when I do it's better to keep my distance. I have more impulsive partners, and my role is to calm them down so that we don't get into conflicts where we end up taking boxes unnecessarily. 

What's your opinion on the start of the season? 
You need time to adapt to the new players. We've changed our system and that takes time too. All things considered, we've produced some pretty interesting games, particularly against Lens and Montpellier in terms of content. A lot of teams are going to lose to PSG, but we came up against better opposition. That also shows that we need to improve if we want to get the better of these teams. I can confirm that we're working hard and there's no reason why we shouldn't be rewarded. At home, we're not too worried, but if we want to play in the top flight, it's going to come down to away games.

What can we expect against Monaco? 
It's going to be a big game, a great game, and we like playing at 9pm. We'll be in front of our fans, and that's going to be great. Monaco are a very good team, complete, who play very well, with players who can combine in small spaces. They're very technical and athletically quick and powerful. They are where they belong, but we have what it takes to win this match.