Inside The Mind Of Pep, Keeping Up With CR7 & International Glory

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1:45Hello and welcome to the rest of the football La Liga. I am very happy to say we're joined by Emeric Laporte here at Athletic Club's training ground. It's a beautiful day here in Bilbao. Emeric, great to have you with us. How are you? I'm good, thank you. And the view behind us here, absolutely stunning. And this is a part of the old San Mames Stadium, which they knocked down. You were here, weren't you? You played there. Yeah, of course. And that was brought here to the training ground as a symbol of the old stadium. Pretty special, isn't it? That it is, yes. Thank you for coming on the podcast.

2:17How are you? All good? What a beautiful day. Good to you. Yeah, beautiful day. I wore a jumper. I thought it was supposed to be cold here and rainy. Yeah, normally it used to rain, but not today. Today, nice weather. You arrived here when you were 15 years old. How does it feel to be back? Is this home for you? Yeah, it's like home for me because, as you said, with 15 years old I came here, I was still a child. I was going to school. I learned so many things, even the language I didn't even know. I grew up here, so I'm very happy to come back here, to be in this club around all these magnificent people.

2:55I know most of them since a long time when I came. As a Neoreth, I was with me, Leque, so many people, so many guys I used to be with when I was children. And now with the first team, back after many years out, I'm very happy. When you were a young boy, is it true that it wasn't just football? You played rugby as well. Your grandfather was a rugby player. No, my father. And why did you decide to play football? My uncle tennis, but not my mother, not my father. My mother football. He used to play football. Oh, really? And your brother's a footballer as well? Yeah, he tried. Right now he stopped it, but yeah, he tried.

3:40And your great-grandparents are from the Basque country. Did you always feel a connection? the Basque heritage? I can say that big connection but of course it was a part of my life you know when I grew up I used to go to Bayona Angleterre, all these small towns in the Basque country in the French side you know, Iparralde is called yeah I went many many many times When you joined was there any conversations local debates about whether you were from the Basque country? Yeah but it's not It's not because of that I'm here, it's because when I came I was still young. I did many categories in the Athletic League.

4:26I had to play one year in Bayona, you know, also. So it was in Basque Country. So when you grow up, the philosophy of the club is when you grow up in the Basque Country, you know, you are allowed to play in this club also. It wasn't the plan but at the end appeared this opportunity and we tried Atletico and myself to do the connection. Obviously it was there so this is why I can play here and I'm very happy. There are so many top players from the Basque Country and top managers as well. What is it about the Basque Country? Is there something in the water here? Yeah, that makes the club very special because they work very well in the Basque country also.

5:14Many, many former teams that make the player better. So many ex-players doing manager, explaining how to do it, learning the people how to grow up, how to be a football player. and this is why every time every year there are so many players or many players that are getting a big level. And as I can see here, since I arrived here, there are players from the second team or third team that are amazing. 2012-13 season was your breakthrough season, wasn't it? You were in the youth team that year and then you moved up. How many categories was it? Four categories to get to the first team? I think even more because I started KDT and there is Juvenil after, and B Juvenil A, and after there is Baskonia and Bilbao Athletic and after first division.

6:18So five. But in one season, three. Because I started Baskonia, I went to Bilbao Athletic and after first division. So in one season you moved up three age groups, eventually ending up in the first team. Marcelo Bielsa, the manager at the time who discovered your talent. He said in a press conference, I didn't realise just how good Aymeric Laporte was. How did you make him realise how good you were? The story is tricky because his right hand said to him that he was showing me in the World Cup in Mexico. He was under 17. I was playing with friends in that time. he told to Marcelo to say that he was a player in the club that was competing in the World Cup and I was doing great.

7:09And he said to him, could be a possibility to me to go with the first team to train sometime or to see how I felt and everything. And Marcelo was a bit, I don't know, is what he said to me. Not convinced. Not convinced. Yes, and after I played one game in Samames against Arsenal. In this competition, I don't know how it's called. Ah, okay, UEFA Youth League. And it was one game in Samames against Arsenal. And this game was very tough and I played really well. And Marcelo saw me in this game and he said, let's try this guy to the first team and we'll see what happens. and after that I never came back down.

7:58You played with some top managers, but just how much did you learn playing under Marcelo Bielsa? What was that experience like? A lot, a lot. You know, he's a tough coach in terms of physicality condition because he wants man-to-man sometimes. Even when we play with one man less, like 10 against 11, he's man-to-man, full 90 minutes. It was difficult but I enjoyed a lot and I learned a lot from him. January 2018, you moved to the Premier League to play for Manchester City. What was it like, your first Premier League game? Do you remember thinking, this is tough? The day just after I arrived, I played the first game.

8:42So I had not even time to think about it. Less than 24 hours? Yeah, I had not even my boots in the training camp when I arrived and he wanted me to train. So we bought some shoes in the shop. I trained and the day after I played already. So it was so, so fast. I didn't expect that because I stopped maybe 10 days before I traveled there because of, you know, a transfer situation and everything. So I didn't train during 10 days. And after he wanted me to play directly straight away, yeah, I was excited, you know, and we won 3-0 and I did a great match also. So, unbelievable moment. So you just went shopping for some boots, Premier League.

9:30No, not myself. You didn't go. Yeah, I didn't go. Someone went for you. Do you still have those boots? I don't remember. Special pair though. Yeah, but I have so many. Let's talk about Pep Guardiola. What's one bit of advice he's maybe given you that stayed with you? To me, not directly. He didn't give me any advice that I can say. Yeah, this advice he gave to me. But the way to understand football, you know, the tactical situation in a game, that is the most important thing I learned from him. And it's different football that you can see anywhere. I mean, you enjoy playing this football, you know, when you like to have the ball and everything.

10:09And most of the footballers in the world like to play football, but not just to run and run behind the ball. No, you like to play football because you have skills, you want to do skills, you want to win the games and it's what we have done during the six-year spend there. We won five Premier Leagues. So when you achieve that thing, it's just unbelievable. You enjoy a lot because it's good to play but to play and win, that is even better. Five Premier Leagues, as you say. Which one was the most special for you? There are so many because one of them I scored in the last game of the season. Brighton?

10:54Yeah, Brighton. What do you remember about that day? We had to win and we started losing 1-0 and we were like crazy because the situation was one point different, I think, with Liverpool. We had to win this game. If it was a draw, we were second in the league. So we start one losing and after Agüero score and I scored the second one that made the turn of the match. But yeah, that was unbelievable. And the season, I think it's 21-22. we finished one point ahead of Liverpool also and we won 14 games in a row until the end. So that was very special as all because we suffered a lot. Because also, you know, in your mind you always hope that something will happen, that it will be easier than what you think, you know, because Leobro was winning every game in the 93rd second minutes, sorry, at the end of the game every time.

12:03So in the 90 minutes we were like, they will draw. We will be two point head or something like that. And score in the last minute, score in the last minute. We were like, oh no, we will have to win again and win again and win again. And as I said, we won the league for one point and 14 games in a row winning. So that was very tough, very difficult. And your first season was unbelievable as well, 2017-18, unprecedented 100 points. What was the intensity like that season, the training sessions? Was it a big jump from La Liga? How different was it? I think it's more tactical than more physical. I think when you understand the football of Pep, it's very easy.

12:51and the only one thing is there is some player that takes more time to understand his football because they don't understand some at the end it's mathematic because when he explains you you know where is the space where has to be the space you have to do the commitment you have to do many things maybe you say why I should do this if I pass directly the ball and after he explains you you understand why You do one thing while you do other things and you keep or you reach the level you want and you understand what he thinks in his mind, you know, and after everything is easier in the pitch. What's the most interesting tactical instruction he's given you?

13:40Every game, every minute is totally different. You depend on 11 players in front of you and 11 players in front of you. So, 22 people in the pitch, there are many different situations. I cannot say to you, cross the ball, pass inside, depending on how they defend, if they play five in the back, four in the back, how they press, if they come up, if they stay down. So, there are many ways. This is what you have to understand. You cannot play in the same way all the games. And this is what you have to understand to be on the next level. Something that he did differently, maybe the way he coached you, the way he trained, was there something that stood out for you, the way he was with you?

14:24As a group, I think, as a group, you don't have, like, you can have a proper conversation with one guy or one player to explain something that maybe they didn't understand, but at the end, it's a group. The tactic doesn't depend on one player because one player is not enough to solve all the problems and more if you face Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea or whatever. You know, the big teams, they are organised also and every game is a different situation, as I said. You exploit all the options that can happen in the game and where will be the weakest part of them. You won five Premier League titles but there were some near misses with the Champions League and eventually won it in 2023.

15:12What was it about the mentality of that Champions League winning side? You know, I think we could win more Champions League the years before,

15:27but Champions League, small details, you know. You know, we couldn't even lose this season for some details, the Champions League in final stage, like against Bayern. I remember some mistakes, even in the final. There were some passes, one against one, the keeper stopped the shoot and it could be 1-0 for them. You know, small details that also depend on the other team. When they miss and when you score or the other side also happen the other way. So, some details that sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not, but I think we could win at least in the six season three easily. For stupid mistakes, if you want to say, or lucky or not lucky situation, I think this is one of my opinion and my wish I wanted to do in the past.

16:29I'm sad because of that a little bit in City, but it's what it is. One is also good, but I wanted to achieve a little bit more in that sense. You were playing alongside some legendary players as well, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva. Who was most influential, would you say? Which team-mate? I think as Manchester City, the three of them are huge because I think they won the first Premier League. The situation was also unbelievable. I've seen the goal of Agüero maybe 500 times when I arrived there. There were all of them legend. You know, when I arrived to City, Agüero, Kompany, Silva, all of them, though, was like top, top, top player level, playing with national team.

17:22and it was an honor for me to play alongside them, to learn from them. And even yesterday and this morning I spoke with Aguero again. What were you saying to him? No, how are you? I'm here and he said, where are you? What are you doing? Just asking a few questions like normal, but he was a good friend of mine. and yeah, very happy to have learned from them and to have played with them. It was unbelievable. And I'm sad also for Aguero because what he had done for the club, for the football in general, and to didn't catch this Champions League alongside him, you know, mean a lot, but it's what it is.

18:08You know, we cannot change anything, but top players. I have a big relationship with them. Your injury in 2019, how hard was that for you mentally, the knee injury and getting back into the team again? Yeah, I had a few of them there and so unlucky because it was all of them at my highest level, you know, in 1920. and I remember I was called up by France for international duty. And the game before, I got injured. And that was very difficult to accept because I had before this one other injuries and I didn't want to go through again. I knew the process, it's always difficult to come back and more in the big squad like Man City, when you miss one, two, three months, you never know what happens after because you never know if someone will come and will do better than you or you will come back as you were before.

19:26and this is why you suffer. The most important thing is that, your mind, your head, to accept it and to understand that that will be a process you have to go through and you have to do your best to come back at your best level. Do you think you came back stronger after? I always come back stronger. I had an ankle injury, a big injury. I had three injuries in the right knee, one on the left. And at the end, after all of this, I won the European Championship. So, very happy, very happy. I'm always back. I work hard to get always my highest level as I can. And yeah, very happy. What gets you through those dark times?

20:17Is it the people around you and your family? Yeah, but I like to hide myself, to think about everything, to think about opportunities, about what I'm missing, and that gives me a big strength. And my mentality is very strong, and it's what I always do. I think about myself, about what I wanted to do, what I want to achieve, what I want in the future. And that may give me that power to come back stronger every time. I guess you learn a lot about yourself during those times as well, having all that time on your own with your thoughts. Yes, it's difficult, but I'm happy to be where I am today. Moving on to talk about the national team, you captained every age group, youth level for France and then made that switch to Spain in 2021.

21:13What was the main reason? Why did you do that? Why Spain? Basically because after five years playing in the first level, first division here in Athletic and after in Man City, I didn't call up by France, you know. We had some issues also with Deschamps, you know, the manager. So after these years and this amount of gaming top level, you know, what I wanted and what football players wish, I think, always is to play for big events like can be European Cup, World Cup, these kind of events, you know, is amazing experience and that is what I wanted to do. And I didn't have the chance to do it with France.

22:06And I feel also a big part of me feel also Spanish because, you know, with 15 years old, I was already here until 22 years old. It was seven years here. And all my friends, my teammates was playing for Spain. So I decided to play there. I wanted to play the big trophies and I did right. I think I'm enjoying a lot. I have the confidence of the manager, the one before, the one now. And I'm really happy to enjoy this moment with my family because they wanted to see me there and they're very happy. You say you had friends playing in the Spanish national team, But what about your French teammates? Was there any disappointment there?

22:58They said, what are you doing? Stay with us. No, I think the mentality in France is a bit different. And even with the guys or the players I used to play in France, I still keep contact with them. There is no problem. Football is a game in life. It's not the most important thing. I think for us it's very important because football is our life. but looking around there is more things important than football. And with my teammates in France, we keep in touch every time. Come on, come to me in Alasser, you know, he signed there, we met there. We were in touch already before but no problem at all.

23:47And winning Euro 2024 must have been the ultimate validation that you did make the right decision, incredible achievement. Where does that achievement rank for you in your career? This achievement is, I think, number one because I felt very important for the team and I played well, I felt very good and it was, you know, at the beginning of the stage, it was difficult because all the press was against me because I played in Saudi Arabia, you know, it's not the best marketing ever. So I had this challenge to prove to everyone that playing there doesn't mean I love football. I always want to win every single game.

24:33If I go national team, it's because I want to win and I think I have the level. So that was very important for me and we did a great. but you said something that is wrong for me that is not because I won the euro that... The validation. Yeah, it's not a validation. For me it's a validation in terms of life because that reflects more my myself, how I live, how I have a very, very good relationship with my teammates, with the managers, as I said, with the staff over there. They are like my family. We are in touch even outside of the national team. We are calling up every time and that is very important for me.

25:21The personality of the guys and the relationship in between the people. You played alongside the incredible Lamine Niamal. Did he seem 16 years old to you on the pitch? Did he seem 16? No, it doesn't seem, but many players like Nico Williams are also young and very good. We didn't win the European League just because it's like this, because we have a fantastic group. Every player is at the moment and we all have done a great job and I hope this summer we'll do something fantastic also. As one of the more experienced players, do you offer Nico and Lamine advice? What do you say to them? What's your message?

26:05I would like to give them a little bit more advice but they don't like me. No? I will try to solve it. What's the main message? What do you want to be saying to them? Most of the thing is for Lamine, still young as you said, He is a differential player, he is top top level, number two in the ballon d 'or. But also, this is football and you can be on the top level and you can go down very fast. You have to be humble, you have to be calm. And sometimes when you don't have this kind of person that will make you have the feet on the floor, you know, can be difficult for himself to realize what is good or what is not good because everyone will give you the reason, you know, yeah, you are right.

27:01But sometimes you need this kind of guy that reminds you where you're from, how you come here, why, and, you know, that doesn't mean he's a bad guy. That doesn't mean anything. I have a big relation with him. we speak many times together, but you know, sometimes a player like me, that has more experience, can give some advice to him, because maybe one day, I don't hope that happened, but he can go a little bit down and himself in his head can think bad things and you don't have to think about many other things than the pitch, you know, to work every day and enjoy because he is a talented player.

27:49And you've won the biggest trophies at club and international level. What drives you now? What motivates you every day to keep going? You know, big trophies I won. As I said, this summer there is a big, big competition as a World Cup. That is a big emotional competition. I want to reach my biggest level. This competition is the highest level in the world where all the players are the best players are. And yeah, we have to show up. Also in Athletic Bilbao, you know, I just won one competition, Supercopa Espana, and hopefully I can win more title here. I want to make this club bigger every day and to help them to reach the highest level.

28:44Ingle and the team to beat again. Our viewers won't want to hear that. Yeah, we'll try. Everyone wants to win, but we'll see what happens. This episode is brought to you by Wise. It's only when you start moving money between currencies that you really think about the exchange rate, the fee, and what might be hidden away in the small print. Whether you're living abroad, paying someone overseas, or just trying to manage your money across borders, you want a fair exchange rate, an easy transfer, and no surprises along the way. WISE keeps things simple. WISE is a smart way to move the currencies you need around the globe.

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29:51You mentioned your move to Saudi Arabia, maybe controversial. What was that experience like for you? How would you compare life in Riyadh for you and your family with life in Bilbao or Manchester? No, it's different but it's not better nor worse, you know, it's different, it's just different, just different culture and yeah, some people who are living there from ever, you know, they are happy with it. It's true that when you taste a rope, it's different than there and if you take the normal condition here, it's difficult to adapt you there. For a few years there is no problem. I had no problem to adapt me there.

30:34It's true that in the club not everything was going well, you know, we changed so many times. Staff, manager, CEO and that makes a bit difficult, you know, the process there. But apart of that, happy to have lived this experience there and happy to come back here also. What's the level of football like out there? Is it different kind of football? Yes, it's different football but also it's different because the weather is different, totally different. You cannot expect to run 13 kilometres per game with, imagine, 47 degrees during a game. There is some different things that you cannot fight against but there are so many good players there.