Consultant for Canal+, exclusive broadcaster of the Premier League, the 1998 world champion and 2000 European champion, member of the Arsenal “Invincibles” team (2003-2004), is counting the days before the resumption of the very prestigious English championship. The opening match is scheduled for Friday at 9 p.m.: the Gunners, reigning champions, welcome promoted Coventry.
The Tangwall Campagin. Can Arsenal’s last crown, twenty-two years after the previous one, mark the start of a new reign for the Gunners?
Robert Pirès. I want to say yes. Coach Mikel Arteta was very good, but above all patient. This title can act as a trigger because the road has been long and difficult. Arsenal is in an extremely positive dynamic. I may not be completely objective (smile), but among the big names, I can see them retaining their title and, why not, going for the Champions League.
After ten years and six Premier League titles, Pep Guardiola has left Manchester City. How to bounce back?
I don’t want the club to experience the long transition period experienced by Arsenal and Manchester United after the departures of Arsène Wenger and Alex Ferguson. Rebuilding a team capable of winning again was very complicated.
City loses a major character but remains Manchester City, with a coach who knows the Premier League well (Enzo Maresca, Editor’s note) and still has players like Haaland or Cherki, capable of turning a match around.
Liverpool have also seen big changes with the departures of coach Arne Slot and legend Mo Salah…
The Reds are coming out of a complicated season. Even when your name is Liverpool, you have to renew yourself. Mohamed Salah is a huge loss, we must be able to find his replacement. Today, that is not the case. So I’m betting less on Liverpool this season.
Aston Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United… Among these outsiders, which team do you particularly want to follow?
I can see Manchester United bothering Arsenal. They did it last season by winning 3-2 at the Emirates. There is a great team and a certain continuity since Michael Carrick was in charge. I really like Aston Villa, not necessarily because I played there (2010-2011), but because I really appreciate the work of coach Unai Emery. Wherever he goes, he usually wins something, like the Europa League this spring.
The density of the Premier League is impressive…
This is its advantage: at the start of the season, no one can really know who will be champion. There are a lot of good teams, a lot of movement on the transfer market and constant competition. It is the most attractive and financially powerful championship, notably thanks to television rights. No one can really compete with him today. Players want to come to England because the level there is extremely high and winning a title remains particularly difficult.
Frenchman Régis Le Bris is doing a remarkable job at Sunderland (7th last season). He is the first manager in two years to maintain a promotion in the Premier League. Do you see him joining a bigger club?
I would like to congratulate him for his work. Its success highlights French training and can encourage other clubs to trust our coaches. At Sunderland, he was given time to work, with confidence and real responsibilities.
“I wish him to win his first big goal, Euro 2028”
He was able to unite his players and is coming off a very good season. I think he is capable of reaching a new milestone. Imagine if he wins the FA Cup (the English Cup) next season: inevitably, eyes will be on him even more.
A word about Zinédine Zidane. You won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 alongside him. Did you imagine him one day at the head of the Blues?
No way ! At the time, I didn’t even imagine him becoming a coach. He built his journey gradually, without making any noise. He completed his qualifications, worked with the Real Madrid reserves, then learned alongside Carlo Ancelotti. This is also what I appreciate about him: despite his immense playing career, he remained humble and agreed to go through all the stages. This experience allowed him to win the Champions League with Real and become the coach of the France team. I am very happy for him and I wish him to win his first big goal, Euro 2028.
