Exclusive I Auxerre’s Romain Faivre: ‘I think people have formed an image of me that doesn’t match who I really am’ | OneFootball

It was in a relaxed atmosphere, with a smile on his face and dressed in his training kit, that Romain Faivre (27) welcomed us in for a midday conversation.

No longer hampered by his ankle injury and with a smile on his face, AJ Auxerre’s number 28 is back to his best. His form is clearly evident on the pitch, having, before the international break, opened his account for assists with the Yonne-based club, where he is currently on loan from AFC Bournemouth. “Mentally, it did me good. Something just clicked,” the attacking midfielder explained to Get French Football News in an interview facilitated by LFP Media’s international department.

Having been out of action for over two months before leaving Al-Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, Faivre rejoices in having found a “very, very positive group” at Auxerre and settled in quickly. “Everything’s great here – the atmosphere, the fans. Everyone’s behind us,” enthuses the 27-year-old. 

An invaluable boost, as AJA are now in the midst of a crucial final sprint to ensure the club’s survival in Ligue 1. And although a high-stakes clash against FC Nantes looms this Saturday in the battle to avoid relegation, Faivre refuses to regard it as THE most important match of Auxerre’s season. “When you’re fighting for survival, every match is a final,” he explains. “Three weeks ago, we played Brest. That was a hugely important match. In February, we played at Metz. That was a hugely important match. The trip to Le Havre was a hugely important match.”

“Now there are six games left and 18 points up for grabs. Obviously, if we can extend the gap to eight points this weekend (against Nantes, who are 17th, five points behind Auxerre), that’s better for us. We might then be able to look a little further up the table to see what’s happening,” he concedes, however. “Especially as we know Nice and Le Havre are playing each other the following day. So if we can put the pressure on them… But whether it’s Nantes, Toulouse or any other team, we approach every match in the same way. There’s no particular pressure.”

Whilst he does expect to face a Nantes side “who will give it their all”, Faivre nevertheless emphasises that this is not Auxerre’s “last chance” to avoid relegation, pointing out that there will still be five matches left to play. These include matches against AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais, which will be “rather special” occasions for the Asnières-sur-Seine native, who has previously worn the colours of both clubs. 

To tell the truth, there have been many colours in Faivre’s career since he started out. In the last four years alone, the former French Under-21 international (eight caps, two goals) has represented no fewer than seven clubs, including Auxerre. An instability he is now able to explain. “I want a change in my life. I think I’ve made mistakes. There came a point when I should have stayed at the clubs,” he says. “When I talk about mistakes, it’s because it’s true that it can be seen as something negative. I stay somewhere for six months, then I leave, and so on. I can’t be a drifter. I’ve grown up in my personal life, I’ve matured, but it’s clear that now, especially when it comes to my family, I need to find stability. That’s really what matters. Finding stability, spending time with the same people every day, settling down somewhere for the long term, proving myself and feeling good – that’s what matters to me today.”

Often seen as a talented player with a patchy career, Faivre doesn’t see things the same way as some of his critics. “I’m only 27 and my journey is far from over. You never know what might happen in life; you’ve always got to believe in yourself. I’ve still got things to prove, both to myself and to the people around me,” he insists. “Of course, I’ve made the wrong choices at times. I should have shown more patience on occasion, thought things through more carefully. It’s all those little details that have led me to where I am today. But that’s just how it is; that’s life. You take responsibility and you deal with it.”

In Lyon, where he played 28 matches between February 2022 and January 2023, those famous “little details” proved particularly important. “When I was at Brest and signed for Lyon, I was in the France U21 squad, I’d just had a good season and I told myself I could aim even higher, that I could make it into the senior France squad. That’s what people were telling me at the time, too,” says Faivre. “And at first, everything was going well. I remember my brace at Lorient in particular. But then I withdrew into myself a bit. That’s something that weighed on me. In Lyon, there was a good squad, the training centre is exceptional – I’d never seen anything like it in my life. And what people say about a so-called ‘Lyon gang’ is untrue. What ultimately let me down was that I lacked patience.”

A form of impulsiveness that has undoubtedly influenced the public’s perception of him. “I think people have formed an image of me that doesn’t match who I really am,” judges Faivre. “People say I’m a strong-willed person, but I don’t see it that way. From what I’ve heard throughout my career, I get the impression that people see me as arrogant, someone who doesn’t care about others. The reality is that I’m a simple, quiet person who doesn’t make a fuss. The people around me know I’m a good person, and that’s what matters most. Obviously, when I don’t play as much as I’d like to, I’m gutted. But so are all footballers. Otherwise, you shouldn’t be playing football.”

Now, just a few months shy of his 28th birthday, the Auxerre-born player knows that only his performances will determine what the rest of his career looks like. And they could lead him back to the pinnacle of European football. Because Faivre still has a few boxes he’d like to tick. Almost like a little personal redemption. “I played in the Champions League with Brest, yes. But back then, I wasn’t a guaranteed starter, so that wasn’t enough for my competitive spirit. I felt I didn’t have the same role to play. I took a bite out of the apple, but I didn’t eat it, I didn’t devour it,” he explains. “I played 20 minutes against Barça, half an hour against Real Madrid. Yes, I enjoyed it, but I want to play 90 minutes, to make a difference. There are players who are content with that, who, at the end of their careers, will say they’ve played against the best. But for me, that doesn’t matter. When I play against Real Madrid, I want to hurt them. I always want more. But I know it will depend on me and me alone.”

His fate, the six remaining matches in Ligue 1, could well help shape it. With two years left on his contract with Bournemouth, Faivre doesn’t know what the future holds: “I’m keeping all my options open. The only thing I want is stability. It’s up to me to perform well and finish the season on a high, and then we’ll see. We don’t know what might happen next year.”

GFFN | Léo Aschi