Azor Matusiwa : « We train better when we know there's quality in our position »

After almost two months at Rennes, how are you feeling? 

It's going well, even though I think I still need a bit of time to adapt perfectly. I'm feeling more and more at ease, I only moved in a short time ago, so that also helps you feel better. Everyone has made me feel very welcome. Whenever I have a question, there's always someone to help me.

You didn't have an observation round. You had to get into the swing of things as soon as you arrived.

Yes, you had to be ready, but I still felt that the level was different in training. The players are top quality and more experienced. It went well but I can still do better, it's a question of time, but I'm confident. I think I've produced some good performances, but I think I can be more consistent. At Reims, in two and a half years, I played almost every match, so I had a good grasp of things. Here, the connections aren't perfect yet, but it's just a matter of weeks, and I'll get better and better on the pitch. 
 

We sensed that you had a great capacity to adapt, right from the start...

I think I assimilate information pretty quickly. I think that shows on the pitch, but I'll say it again: I can do better, it'll come.

There were a lot of expectations in midfield, especially with the injuries to Enzo Le Fée and Fabian Rieder. Did you feel it?

I didn't feel any pressure from the coach, but when you change teams you want to show yourself straight away. It's a pressure you put on yourself, it's normal.

« In the big teams, the substitutes are as good as the starters »

In your position, Baptiste Santamaria is also growing in stature. How is the competition going? 

You train better when you know there's quality in your position. In football, it's normal to have to fight to play. The club needs several good players to achieve its objectives. In the great teams, the substitutes are just as good as the regulars, and that should raise the level. We need everyone.

Is it more complicated to change clubs in winter than in summer?

It's the first time for me and I think it's harder because there's no real adjustment time. With Reims, we were supposed to take stock at the end of the season and then there was the offer from Rennes. It wasn't in my head, I hadn't thought about it. I gave it a lot of thought, but the choice was the right one. The step up is higher with Stade Rennais. Everyone around me, especially my former team-mates, was delighted for me. It's a great way of continuing to progress, and at a European club what's more, I've been told that I deserve it. I felt the confidence of Stade Rennais and I'm very happy with my choice.

« We did everything we could, and it was a great experience. »

You've just discovered the Europa League. What do you remember about the double-header against Milan? 

It was very special. Playing in front of 70,000 people at the San Siro was incredible. We did everything we could with the support of our fans. We knew it was going to be difficult at Milan's ground. On the way back, we also knew that if we scored early, we could turn things around. It worked out the way we wanted at the start, but unfortunately Milan also managed to score. We did everything we could and it was a great experience. I hope it will serve the team well in the months to come and that the club will have the chance to play matches like this again. Whether it was there or in Rennes, the atmosphere was enormous. I'd seen videos of the great atmosphere at Roazhon Park. But it's not the same to experience it live, the support from the fans is enormous. That's why we play, to give the fans something to enjoy so that we can thank them for their encouragement. On a personal level, I felt good and I'm happy with what I was able to show against a great team. 

 

Will Still at Reims and Julien Stéphan are among the youngest coaches in L1. Do you see any similarities between the two coaches?

He wasn't yet the coach of the pro team, but I already knew Will Still, he was my assistant, so we obviously had a special relationship. He wasn't yet 30, so he was a bit like a friend. When he took over the first team, he had to put some distance between himself and the team, and that's normal when you're managing a group, but his character hadn't changed. I like him as a coach. When I started at Rennes, I slept in the same hotel as Julien Stéphan. The first night I signed, we talked for over an hour over dinner. That gave me a chance to get to know him, because it's not the same over the phone. He explained what he expected of me, and I think he's also a very good coach, very human, who talks to everyone. He keeps the team together.

Are you aiming to join the Netherlands senior team?

To do that, I need to be consistent in my performances and play as many games as possible as a regular. If I'm good and regular, then yes, that could be a goal. By choosing Stade Rennais, I've given myself a better chance of making the senior team, but that's up to me, I still have to improve. I hope that one day I'll get that opportunity. 

« There's a great football culture at Ajax »

You spent five years at the Ajax Amsterdam training centre. How is that a world reference? 

There's a very strong football culture at Ajax, training is part of the club's DNA, and that imposes high standards on everyone who goes through the centre, whether coaches or players. A great deal of trust has always been placed in young players, and they get a lot of playing time. Many Ajax players have played for the national team. This season, they are less in the limelight on the European stage, and you can see that on the Dutch list, there are fewer players. But it's still a benchmark, a great club with a reputation for its game and attractive football. There's a unique culture and know-how.

The results momentum has slowed down in the last three games, how would you judge the latest performances? 

We've dropped points, and I think we should have come away from Paris with three points had it not been for a questionable refereeing decision. We made a mistake against Lorient, but that was within our grasp. In Lille, we played well in the first half but in the second we found it harder to play and we couldn't gain any ground. Lille pushed forward and with a bit of luck they came back. It's annoying, but a lot of teams would like to take a point from Paris and Lille. It's the Lorient game that gets us going. The most important thing is not to have cracked against Paris and Lille, and that will keep us up.

« If we play the way we train, with a lot of intensity, we can win it. »

Marseille will be facing you on Sunday...

It's going to be hot, they're a good team. It'll be a European match. Our advantage is that we'll be playing at home, with our supporters with us. It won't be easy, that's for sure, but if we play the way we train, with a lot of intensity, we can win it. It would do us good before the break. The aim is to aim higher, and the team is capable of doing that.