Thomas: The coach is always telling me to believe in myself more

Having forced her way firmly into coach Betty Bavagnoli's attacking plans, Thomas spoke this week with Roma Radio about the arc her career has taken...

Tell us a bit about yourself. What was life like in Guadeloupe, your birthplace?

"Life in Guadeloupe is quite different. It’s a small island, a department of France, even though that sounds strange. It’s a great place to go on holiday and have fun. All in all, things are going well there."

How did you first get into football?

"I started with one of my cousins who played football and made me want to start playing. At the start I played with my family, but then I started playing with other people."

Did your family always support your decision?

"Yes. Initially I did athletics, but then I had to decide whether to continue with athletics or focus on football. I gave up athletics and my parents supported my decision straight away. They’ve always supported me and still do now. I’m thankful for that."

Have you always played in attack? What kind of forward are you?

"Always. I’m a very quick forward and I like to attack the space. I’m quite a technical player and I like linking up with my team-mates. I try to get into a good position in front of goal and get my shot away quickly."

Is there a particular striker you try to emulate?

"Yes. In the past I really liked Thierry Henry and now I’m a big fan of [Karim] Benzema. He does an amazing job at Real Madrid. I also like [Robert] Lewandowski at Bayern. I like that kind of striker."

Is there a particular coach you’ve learned a lot from in your career?

"The one that springs to mind is my first coach, Samuel Petère, who I had when I was younger and used to play with boys. He really helped me and was the person that enabled me to go to France to play football. Then there was the coach I had for six months in Switzerland. He really taught me to believe in myself and I think that’s what allowed me to continue developing and to get to where I am now."

What was your first impression when you arrived in Rome in the summer?

"I had an excellent first impression. I’ve started to explore the city now but at the start I didn’t really know it. All the people are really warm and welcoming. It was the first time I’d heard people speak in Italian, which was strange for me. I had a great first impression and the group here has been fantastic with me – same for the club employees and coaching staff. It was a great start ahead of the new season."

What does Roma represent at this point in your career?

"It's a new start. The last four years were a bit tricky – I went out on loan all over and it wasn’t always easy. Roma represents a new start for me and gives me the chance to go in a new direction, start new things and continue to develop. I’m stronger and calmer now thanks to the experiences I’ve had. I think this is the start of a new adventure for me."

What advice does the coach give you in terms of your development?

"Broadly speaking I don’t have a lot of self-confidence, even if the opposite seems true. Coach [Elisabetta] Bavagnoli tells me to believe in my talents, because she believes I have qualities that few other players have. She tells me I need to believe in my qualities and in myself, because I’m capable of achieving big things. She’s always telling me that. It will allow me to help the team more."

Which of your team-mates has impressed you the most?

"I’ll go with Manuela Giugliano. She’s very young but she has enormous potential. She’s already part of the national team set-up and she’s only 21 years old. She sees things before other players, keeps it simple and has an excellent shot on her. She’s also really friendly on the pitch – very respectful and affectionate. I’ve been impressed by the simplicity of her game, her technique and her vision, which is really important if you play as a No.10 or in midfield."

How important are the fans to this team?

"It's a big help to see that the fans are always there to support us. It allows us to always give our all, even in the toughest moments. They’re our twelfth player and they help us to get a good result even if we’re in a tough match. It’s really important to see that the football we’re trying to play is appreciated and is encouraging more and more people to come and support us. That pushes us to keep working to show the fans that we want to give them something to celebrate this year."

Now that we’re a little way into the season, what objectives have you set for the campaign?

"We’ve had two defeats recently which have hurt us a bit, but there’s still a long way to go this season so we have time. Our aim is to continue working hard to win every game. Then, at the end of the season, we’ll take stock."

You spent a long time playing in France. What differences have you noticed between French and Italian football?

"I think there is a difference in terms of the intensity. In France, when a strong team plays a less strong team, they tend to move the ball about and keep hold of possession. Here in Italy, even when you’re up against a weaker team on paper, the opposition will still come out and pressure you, play with intensity and look to battle. We saw that against Florentia, for example. They might have been a weaker team than us on paper, but they were the better team in various areas of the game. They were more physical and we ended up losing the game. I think there’s more intensity in Italy – the games are end to end and you don’t get much time to catch your breath. The opposition tries to make the most of their strengths to hurt the other team and target their weaknesses. It’s more end to end."

You won the European U19 Championship with France in Wales and then came second in the U20 World Cup in 2014. What memories do you have of those tournaments?

"Great memories. I was really young at the time. I was very introverted, very shy. I didn’t speak much and maybe I wasn’t able to express the way I was feeling very well. But they were great moments. I probably didn’t have the same experience of them as I would now, but they still brought me a lot of joy and pride. I knew it was just the beginning of a big journey. It’s great to have success when you’re young, but then when you grow up you want to win with the senior national team. I’m working to be part of the France national team one day and experience the same emotions I had when I was younger."

There are often lots of young girls supporting you at matches. What advice would you give anyone looking to make it in women’s football?

"Believe in your dreams. You’ll always find someone who says that this sport isn’t for girls. That’s not true. Women’s football is growing fast, especially in Italy. So if a girl likes playing football, she has to be able to do that without having to ask herself too many questions. She has to be able to enjoy herself. You never know – perhaps one day she’ll play for Roma, be selected for the national team and win titles. All you have to do is believe in yourself and not be discouraged by others. You have to do what you want to do at that moment in time without questioning yourself too much. Life is short, so if you have the chance to do what you want to do, you have to do it without hesitation."

You joined Roma in 2019. But what are your hopes for 2020?

"2019 was a year of ups and downs for me. Coming here was a lovely surprise. This is a massive club and I’m pleased with how things have gone this year. I’m not a difficult person – I don’t need much to make me happy. I hope to have a good 2020 with Roma and to perhaps win a trophy and represent my national team. That would be amazing."