Eduardo Camavinga: “I’m not patient, but in football I have to be”

Eduardo Celmi Camavinga (Cabinda, Angola; 21 years old) tells his family that he is leaving for home soon. He does it through an audio message in French, although he has no problems switching to Spanish, which he is fluent in after two years in Spain. The midfielder is one of the symbols of Madrid that will remain after the retirement of Toni Kroos. Young people like him will take on more weight in the team when this Saturday’s Champions League final against Dortmund takes place. After being a substitute in the semifinals against Bayern, the Frenchman aims to start in London, also benefiting from Aurélien Tchouameni’s injury. Quick, agile and direct answers from an often smiling guy.

Ask. It is his second European Cup final in three seasons in Madrid. How has Camavinga changed?

Answer. I’m a little more mature, I have more beard (laughs) and my type of game has changed somewhat. I’m calmer and I also play a little more.

Q. How do you become calmer?

R. When you look at Toni [Kroos] or Luke [Modric]you just have to do like them, they are very calm in all parts of the field.

Q. Is that what you have learned the most from them?

R.Also Toni’s passing quality. And talk less, like him, because he is a person who doesn’t talk much, but when he does, he kills you. And I like that a lot about him.

Q. Do you learn to talk less?

R. I’m not like that, but when you’re more mature, you talk less. That is learned.

Kroos doesn’t talk much, but when he does he kills you. I like that about him

Q. In this generational transition, Ancelotti has always asked for the understanding of veterans and the patience of young people. How have you handled that?

R.I am patient, but not much. Because in my life things have come very quickly, but you also have to be patient. Sometimes, it is the key, although we young people are not used to having much because everything has come to us very quickly. But in football you have to have it.

Q. Should you have changed the chip?

R. Yes, I have had to do it. The first year I didn’t play much and I want to play a lot. When I don’t do it, I’m not happy. It is normal. But I must be patient. That is something that the coach has asked me a lot too.

Q. Have you had many talks with Ancelotti about this?

R. I’m young. Patience is life, that’s true.

Q. Has it been like a life lesson?

R. Football is a thing of time. There are little things that you don’t have to force because when you do, they may not turn out well. And if you have been patient, they may come out. I don’t have patience, but it’s the key to life, I think. In life, in general, I have not had patience, but in football I must have it.

Q. What do you think you should improve on the field?

R. In concentration when we don’t have the ball. Sometimes I watch the games and wonder why I didn’t go there, why I didn’t do that…

Q. Do you study a lot?

R. I don’t see myself many times because I like to sleep (laughs), but sometimes I do.

Q. And what do you think it does very well?

R. He tackle. But I also have qualities with the ball. I know how to dribble and people don’t know it. When I do it, people say: wow. But it’s not wow, because I know how to do it. People see me more as someone who is defensive, but I have that quality too. I don’t do it much and people think I can’t, but I can.

Q. Did you do it a lot as a child?

R. Yes, he was a scorer, a ten. There he dribbled a lot. But at Rennes, I don’t know why, they made me defend. I do not know why.

Q. Did they never explain it to you?

R. I don’t know. When he was younger, he was more attacking and scored more goals. But in the quarry I started in the middle of the field. I had to defend more, recover more balls. I didn’t like defending, and now I do.

People see me as someone who is defensive, but I also know how to dribble

Q. Have you taken pleasure in defending over time?

R. Now I like it a lot.

Q. What does Ancelotti ask of you most?

R.When I have the space, go forward with the ball.

Q. The other day he also asked her to dance in Cibeles.

R. It came naturally, that’s why I liked it. It was the coach’s wish and I just had to do it.

Q. What is your role going to be from next season without Kroos?

R. Without Toni, it will be different. The young people, and me too, will play more. I have to focus on myself, on my football. But surely Madrid without Toni will not be the same. There are no two like him.

Q. The other day Ancelotti said that young people will have to take on more responsibilities.

R. It is normal. When you play for Madrid, whether you are a starter or not, you have responsibilities because there are no young or old on the field. You must play well.

Q. Do you see yourself prepared to have more weight in the release of the ball?

R. Yes of course. I can do that too. All players here can have responsibilities. When you play here, there is already a lot of pressure from outside.

Q. What did playing for many months as a left back bring you last season?

R. Now I have a different vision of football because, when I give the ball to the left back, I know what he thinks and how in that position. There are balls that are not easy for them. I do things so that they are good. If I pass it on to them, I take into account whether it may be complicated for them.

Q.How was the adaptation to that position? Did you talk to other full-backs, watch videos, ask for advice…?

R. Ferland [Mendy] It has helped me a lot to know how to position my body. I have to thank you for the advice.

Q. At some point did you see yourself as a winger forever?

R. No, never, never. I am not a left back, I am a midfielder. Although if it’s to help the team, I’m going to do it.

Q. How many Dortmund games have you watched?

R. Five or six. It’s going to be a complicated final because they have qualities, sacrifice and history. If you have history, you play with your heart and, if you play with your heart, it is more complicated.

Q. Do you fear maximum favoritism?

R. You say that. Surely Madrid is always the favorite in this type of match because it is more accustomed, but on the field anything can happen.

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