Raphael Varane Quotes

Zidane has tried to get me to improve. Anticipating, reading the play, putting myself in the defensive balance, I know how to do all this. So he expects the same finesse in an attacking sense.

You have to be humble and learn from the players around you.

I was inspired by players like Pepe or Sergio Ramos because they are defenders and by someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is an example for any footballer.

You have to play differently. I try to be more complete to annoy any striker.

During a career there are some steps we need to take growing up, that’s natural.

Kylian keeps learning and going forward, which he does very quickly. It’s good that he is ambitious. He is self-confident, it’s good. He always wants more.

Everybody knows that there are quality players at centre back for Madrid and for me that’s the day-to-day challenge. That’s why it’s important to be ready to take advantage of every chance that comes up.

It takes a great strength of character to arrive at Real at 18 years and make a journey like I have so far.

Ronaldo is a bon vivant, he is friendly, he always has something to help you progress. He wants to be the best around. It infuriates him when he loses, he cannot stand it. It’s true that sometimes, in the dressing room, it’s fun to lose just to make him mad!

I’m proud to represent my country.

It takes a great strength of character to arrive at Real at eighteen years and make a journey like I have so far.

It’s not a fault in football to be ambitious, far from it.

When you’re young you want to show what you can do, but sometimes you have to learn not to over-complicate things.

I try to give the squad my peace of mind, my experience of big competitions and to be myself.

To play for Madrid for 10 years and also being the number nine you have to be very good and have a huge mental strength.

I understand that you always want to improve.

What is important is to communicate a lot. That’s how we manage to create a good understanding.

What’s for sure is that the profile of the central defender is evolving. At one time it was all about the stopper and the libero. Today, central defenders have to be more complete.

I know the players with whom I play well.

Mourinho kept his word. In the two years I played for him he always kept his word, and he also knew when to throw me in at the right time.

It would be against my nature if I shouted or banged the walls.

Mourinho doesn’t need to give long speeches. He’s direct and to the point.

I think I felt ready and I really wanted to go to Real Madrid. Some are ready and others aren’t. I thought about it carefully and I made the right decision.

First, you arrive at training, prepare for the session, I get treatment from the physios and go straight to the gym to activate the body.

In Madrid there is a lot of competition.

Basically, I played football to share with others, to excel together, to achieve a goal. After, we all have our ego, our pride and our personality. But all alone, in football, it does not work.

Interest from Bayern or Man Utd? It is greatly flattering to hear those names, and I even ask myself if that is really about me.

Things come naturally in a career. From experience, I know that things progress season by season.

Playing with France is the challenge of playing with one of the national teams with the greatest football histories.

When you are at Real, it’s a challenge every day. I’m like that, I need these high goals to keep moving forward.

I’m obsessed with making progress.

You can be a huge player, if you play alone, the team loses.

The thing with Mourinho is he asks you to do what you are good at, but not to over-do it.

It’s the desire to keep winning. Each season the counters are reset to zero. You’ve either got a title to defend or one to go and win. We want to keep making our honours list longer.

At 20 years old I’m eager to play and to watch from the sidelines isn’t easy.

I am thrilled to become part of the HyperX family and to join this amazing group of talented ambassadors.

Every season is a challenge and now I am a more complete player. I have learned at the highest level.

Kylian is very important for France. We count on him very much.

Zidane’s success comes from transmitting calm and never changing that no matter what is happening. That serenity and tranquility conveys confidence and security. He talks little but when he does, it matters.

Just imagine, I was doing exams and signing autographs for other students. It was surreal. I’m really proud that I passed.

I consider myself to be from Madrid because I arrived very young, but I do not forget my years in Lens – of which I am also proud.

If I know where I want to play before I receive the ball, it’s easier. It’s more fluid.

I hope to meet expectations. To achieve this, I need to keep working hard and hopefully things will go my way.

In my position you talk about a mature player being around 28 and it is normal that you improve.

Winning the Champions League is the dream.

I watch a lot of players in my position, but if I had to name a role model, I’d say Lillian Thuram because of the way he carried himself on the pitch and everything he did in his career.

We do a team sport. Individually, you’re worthless!

During my second year at Madrid, Jose Mourinho gave me a kick up the backside. I wasn’t doing well, I wasn’t managing to do what he wanted me to out on the pitch. So he chided me, saying: ‘Why don’t you run in training?’ My first reaction was to mutter, ‘Oh come on… ‘ But I knew he was right, I had more to give.

Depending on the day’s training intensity, we stretch, work on mobility, everything to prepare myself well. Later, we train, and depending on the day we do more physical work, more technical or more tactical. The duration also varies between 45 minutes and an hour and a half.

When they are stronger I try to pass in front, that I cannot play. Like Lukaku, for example. He is the strongest forward in the world. He is pure power.

Pogba is a good player, I know him very well. For any team he would be fantastic.

Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game and you have to adapt, keep faith, trust and never give up.

You will rarely see a defender in front of the opponent’s goal.

I want to continue to be a first-team regular here at Madrid. That is my long-term goal.

Having played an international competition is definitely a plus.