On The Front Foot

L’Officiel Arabia: How did you get into soccer?

Théo Hernandez: I got interested in soccer at a very early age. It was my family and friends that made made soccer more than just a sport. It has been my passion since I was a child and I am very I am very happy to be able to live from it today. Later, I went to live in Spain and you know how important soccer is in this country. You could say that my whole childhood made me the footballer that I am today.

 

LOA: How did you realize that your athletic abilities were better than those of the people around you?

TH: My family quickly realized that my brother and I had abilities and that we were in love with soccer. I think it is not the best who make it in soccer but the ones who are most involved. After that, I joined the Athletico Madrid at the age of 10. I was very young and I am very grateful to the club formed me, gave me a lot and and allowed me to keep my passion for soccer.

LOA: How often do you train? Do you train every day?

TH: Most of the week, with my club, I train twice a day. We do a lot of group exercises to prepare for games and individual exercises. If I have one piece of advice for anyone aspiring to be a professional footballer, individual repetition drills are essential for success and performance. And to complete the picture, I do some background work at home like weight training and running.

 

LOA: Who is the sportsman who has influenced you the most?

TH: I have many who come to mind. Throughout my career, I have met and worked with incredible people who have given me a lot of personal and professional development. If I have to name a few, I would say Karim Benzema for his professionalism, or Mike Tyson for his determination. But to name only one, I would say Zinedine Zidane who is an extraordinary person and who has taught me a lot.

LOA: What other sports do you like to play?

TH: I really like to play golf. Whenever I get the chance, I play with my friends. I'm still far from Tiger Woods' level, but it’s okay. I also like to play video games a lot, and I'm pretty good at it.

 

LOA: If you had not been a footballer, what profession would you have chosen?

TH: If I had not been a footballer, I think I would have done a job focused on people like a sports teacher. Even if it sounds cliche, I like to say that in life, it is important to do things that you love and believe in.

LOA: What kind of music and artists do you like to listen to before a game?

TH: I really like an artist called Demarco Flamenco.

 

LOA: What is the most frustrating game you have ever played?

TH: When I arrived in Milan, I injured my ankle in a friendly match against Bayern. Because of this injury, I was out of action for a long time. It was a hard blow for me, but thanks to my family and supporters, I was able to get through it.

LOA: How has the pandemic changed the world and especially the world of sports?

TH: The fact that it was something unknown and new was scary. For the sports world, the change is clearly the relationship with the fans, not being able to meet them or see them supporting us in the stadiums during the games is something I miss. This pandemic is serious. I hope and I am convinced that we will find a way to make it disappear and that everything will return to normal. In any case, it is one of my dearest wishes.