Fabien Barthez France national team goalkeeper coaching, Digi Mart USA News (France): Brought in by Zinedine Zidane to take charge of goalkeeper training for the France national team, Fabien Barthez has been a major factor in the new head coach’s decisions regarding goalkeepers. When Robin Risser withdrew from the September training camp, Barthez very likely had a say in the decision to replace him numerically with Jean Butez.
Butez spoke about his veteran colleague in an interview published Wednesday by Ouest-France. He said Barthez’s input and experience have been a significant benefit.
“He brings enormous importance to his speech, to the way he prepares matches, to giving a certain voice, a certain form of lightness and confidence to the player who is going to play.”
Butez added: “And then, for him, what is also very important is that the group of goalkeepers lives well together, that everyone pulls in the same direction.” The Lille goalkeeper also had praise for Zidane, saying the coach has been very close to the players and has made a point of holding discussions with each of them and passing on his confidence.
Butez also noted that Barthez encourages his goalkeepers to play high. “That’s his philosophy.
Fabien was a very accomplished goalkeeper, already modern for his era. It’s also a request from Coach Zidane, who wants his goalkeeper to play high.”
Zidane’s next squad list will be announced this Friday at 6 p.m. It remains to be seen whether Butez will earn a second consecutive call-up, something he obviously hopes for.
