“There is no secret to play it all, confidence of the coach”

Robin Aimé Robert Le Normand (Pabu, France, 11-11-96) He is the only outfield footballer who has played every minute of this League. On Friday he completed 100 First Division games with Real Sociedad. In the week of Barcelona’s visit to the Reale Arena, we at AS get to know the ‘rock’ of LaLiga a little better.

There are already 133 games with Real, 100 in the First Division… and four goals. Few seem to me for how well it finishes off!

Well, we can say that I have improved, but I still have a lot to learn (smile).

What is the secret to having played everything this season in LaLiga?

There is no secret. You have to thank the coach a lot, first, because he gives me a lot of confidence and if he doesn’t put you in, you can’t play as many games. Then, let the injuries leave you alone. I’m very lucky in that sense, and I hope it will continue to be the same until the end of the season.

Yeah, but I don’t believe that he doesn’t do something different to endure playing it all so far…

I try to take care of myself as much as possible, but you also have to value the work of the club’s staff. Because although there have been injuries, there are also many players who have been able to play many minutes, and that speaks very highly of their work, because they try to lower our load and there they do a good job.

What would a day at Le Normand be like once you’ve left Zubieta?

It is true that at home I try to take good care of myself. I also do work, but mostly I sleep a lot. For example, when I return from Zubieta I always go for a siesta, which is long, and they hesitate a lot in the locker room with my long naps (laughs). And then I call my family and play with my friends online because I can’t be with them living in France, and it’s the way to keep in touch. I like that a lot.

He played 100 games in the First Division against Betis, the same team against which he made his debut…

Yeah, but I didn’t know that. You are the ones who have discovered it to me, good coincidence, although this time he was at home. It was a very nice match against a direct rival.

When you debuted in 2018, did you expect to have such a giant progression?

If you talk to me when I arrived at Real in 2016, I would never have expected this path. But I have always worked to get very high. These are big words, I thank the club and the coach for everything because I know that my beginnings were not good, but I feel their confidence, and that helps me to continue and improve a little more every day.

How much is Imanol to blame for his evolution, with whom he was also in the subsidiary?

A great part. It is true that since the one kilo in the Real I have been with him. We have grown together, in the subsidiary and in the first team. And we have spent many hours together analyzing rivals and analyzing my game. He has a very important part and his work with me I will thank him all my life.

Is it a myth that he never laughs?

(Smile) A little. There are moments to laugh and others not, nothing more. I am very happy in my normal life. But it is my way of being focused, when we talk about rivals and the game I am always very serious, because it is my way of being, for me all this is very serious, there are many people who come to see us and pay a lot to see us. And it’s my way of returning that love from the fans.

It is that he is seen concentrated from minute 1 until the end of the game…

Yes, it is true that it is one of my virtues. Because I have had to compensate for other things that I did not have and it is my way of competing at the highest level. But I try to improve it too because 90 minutes is very long, and I can make progress on that too.

His case is curious, because he does not live in Donostia either, like most of his colleagues who come from abroad. He lives in Astigarraga, which is a small town that is close to the capital…

Yes. And I am delighted. It is wonderful because I am very calm with many people who respect and appreciate me. And very close to Zubieta, to go to train without problems.

How do you deal with the rumors that have begun to appear about the interest of other clubs?

Well look, I think that’s not my job. I have people that I trust a lot that take care of that and it is their profession. The season is not over, there are very important games and I am very excited about everything that is coming. I am happy at Real, with the club and my teammates. And I don’t look at those things, because I only focus on doing my job.

What does it tell you to be fighting to return to Europe with a club like Barcelona and in Anoeta?

Well, we’ve earned it. That it will be a very difficult rival, but that we should not fear anyone, least of all with the support of our people. It’s a great team, but we’re fine, we have to come out with our weapons to win the game.

Because the Champions are at hand. They’ve earned the right to dream of finishing in the top four, don’t you agree?

Of course, of course. You say it right. We don’t have to put a ceiling. As you say, it is there. But if we look up, we also have to look back and be careful. We have to be humble and look where we are and also around us to see who is out there, because it is very difficult. And then football will decide, especially us with our performances, where we end up and what we fight for. But we don’t have to hold back and think that we can achieve something big. But being aware that the rivals are very big, teams that play Champions every year and with very good squads. So if we want to fight for that goal in the Champions League, we must know that it will be very difficult. And keep in mind that no matter what happens, we are already having a great year. But we are going to give everything we have, because we are ambitious.

Then we will have to win, yes or yes, against Barça, which is coming off a bad run.

We are going to go out with everything, with respect, but without fear. They come from games without winning, but they are still a great team. We cannot think that we are going to win just because of that. It will be very difficult, but today they are a direct rival and we have to go out and beat them. We only think about that.

And what about France? Doesn’t it bother you that Deschamps hasn’t called you at such a high level?

Of course I follow the national team, it would be a pride to play with France, it’s a goal. She tried to give my best version so that they call me. I’m giving it, but it can be improved, I know. And I want to continue to improve so that you call me. It doesn’t bother me, it’s just one more incentive to get it.

And if he still doesn’t call you, would you value, like Diego Carlos, being selectable by Luis Enrique to play with Spain?

I have always said, I am very grateful to Spain, for the opportunity it has given me through Real and that in France I have not had to play at a professional level. I will never be able to thank the country for all this, because with the Real they have given me the opportunity to fulfill my dream. But I’m French and that’s how I feel, and my goal is to play for the French team, which is my team.