“That Sunday morning, while leaving Téléfoot’s set, I’ve crossed paths with Patrice Evra. Nothing he had told me during that meeting reassured me, on the contrary…

“Out of respect for the team I can’t tell you anything coach, but you should know we are preparing to do something for Nico”

I’ve warned him about the incalculable consequences an action could do and encouraged him to think about it with the rest of the team.  But it was like talking to brick wall, as per usual with these guys who all communication has ceased to exist.  While walking back to the bus, I’ve met Hugo Lloris and tried to learn some more about the situation. He’s a bright man and well grounded who I’ve always had good relationship with. 

“What exactly are you preparing for us?”

He hasn’t replied to me, just sighed. This gave me a greater measure of concern without managing to find a word to describe it. I wanted to know more, but I couldn’t ask him a direct question without the risk of having him walk away. 

“And you, what do you think about it?”

“We’re going to look like fools!”

“Ok, and you’re not going to do anything to stop this movement? It doesn’t bother you to appear like a fool as you say?”

“You know how hard it is to separate yourself from the group……”

“Yes and no, it only takes one person to stop so the others would understand how stupid it is when you prepare yourself to do a collective screw up.”

He lowered his head without responding. We arrived to the bus and there wasn’t any more doubt, something dramatic was about to happen.

I tried one last gesture to save the situation that has long escaped my reach, I placed myself in front of the bus and stared at every single player who walked passed me.”

(Source: thesassyfrench)