CITY Magazine Official Interview – Bernard Mendy

By: Matt | February 27th, 2009

Bernie Interview

Here is an interview with Tiger winger and speed merchant Bernard Mendy, fresh off the press from Hull’s official CITY Magazine.

Bernard Mendy

Rumour has it that you are pretty good in the kitchen. What’s your favourite dish to cook?

No, that is not true. Where did you hear that? I am not a good cook, I let my wife do all of that sort of stuff, especially when we have friends round. She is a very good cook. Apparently, Kamil Zayatte is a good cook too, when it comes to African food at least!

Did you ever think you would become a big hit like you are at Hull City when you first joined the club?

Not really, but you never know. Sometimes you play well and the fans are happy. Sometimes you don’t play very well and the fans aren’t so happy. At the moment, I’m fit and happy, and if the fans like me I am even happier.

When you signed for the Tigers in the summer it was expected you would play in the full-back position but you have excelled when played on the right wing. Which position have you enjoyed playing the most?

I don’t know, we play different systems so it depends on that. For example, when we played against Liverpool we played 4-4-2 and I started on the right wing. But Paul McShane went off injured, so I also had to play right back in that game. I enjoyed both.
It depends on the team, the system and the manager. I’m happy to just be out on the pitch and I let the manager decide which position I play in. I do enjoy my midfield position, though, because it means I can attack.

Where did you get your energy and inspiration for the game?

I am naturally an energetic player anyway, but because I am happy, I think that gives me more energy. Not everybody is lucky enough to play football, so I want to make the most of the chance I have been given. I give my best for my team and my family, that is who my energy is for.

What is it like playing for Hull City in the Barclays Premier League?

I’m enjoying it a lot. This is the first time Hull City have played in the Premier League and that is the reason I came here. I was desperate to come back and play in England and jumped at the chance to come here because I love this division. I would say this is the best league in the world.

Do you see yourself getting back into the France team in the future whilst playing for Hull City?

This is the challenge for me. The first challenge is to help Hull City stay in the Premier League and the second is to get back in the national team. If the team play well and if I play well, hopefully that will get noticed back at home.

How do you feel your game is going and how are you finding life in the Premier League and at Hull City?

It is hard. Every 90 minutes is difficult and different. This league is very strong and a lot different to the top divisions in France, Italy and Spain. The English league is very physical, but I am enjoying that. I am enjoying the whole experience.

You’ve had many highlights during your career; playing for France against Brazil, Scoring against RC Lens in the Coupe De la Ligue Final and scoring for Hull City at Old Trafford, what is the most memorable and why?

It’s hard to say. I was delighted to play for France against Brazil, but the other two moments were brilliant as well. Scoring for Hull City at Old Trafford is something that I will always remember, but we lost the game. On the other hand, scoring in the cup final in France was a great experience and we won the game. I know you want me to pick one moment, but I really don’t have any preference. All three were fantastic achievements.

What do you like most about the Tigers fans?

The atmosphere Hull City fans create is fantastic. My friends come to some of the home games and they always say to me afterwards ‘wow, this atmosphere is a lot better than Paris Saint-Germain’.
Here, whether you win or lose, the fans support you just the same. The fans here are great. At Paris, if you were losing at home, the fans would leave the stadium. That doesn’t happen here.

France can boast some national footballing icons such as Platini and Zidane, but who do you think has been the most influential French footballer of recent times?

It’s hard to say because we’re talking about different generations. I was lucky enough to play alongside Zidane for the national team, so I’ll opt for him!

When you are running down the wing and in a one-to-one versus the opposition defender, what have you anticipated from pre match analysis, and what goes through your mind at the time?

It’s different every time. I have an idea of what the right back might be thinking as well because I sometimes play there. You have to remember as a right winger that you also have to track back. Going forward is the easy part, coming back is not so easy.

What has been the highlight of your Hull City career so far?

There isn’t one particular moment. I would just say everything about my time here so far has been a highlight. I love it here.

I hear you have a new addition to the Mendy family, how have your wife and children settled in the area?

We have settled very well in this area. Yes, we have a new addition and my daughter is just starting school. She speaks a little bit of English and she has made some friends. But she only speaks English when she is playing with her friends.

Will you finish your playing career at Hull City? If not, where would you like to finish your playing career?

It’s a hard question to answer. It depends on a lot of things and I want to stay in the Premier League. I have a lot of belief that this team will do that. I have signed here for two years and I don’t like moving around. I played for Paris Saint-Germain for seven years, apart from the one year I had on loan at Bolton. I am not a globetrotter!

Was the year you spent with Bolton a steep learning curve and do you feel you benefitted from your year in England?

Of course I benefitted. It was a good experience because it was the first time I had played in England. It was similar to Hull City because at the time, their main aim was to stay in this division. We won the last game of the season to stay up and that was a very good moment.

How does living in Hull compare to living in Paris?

Good question! Every friend I have said to me during the summer ‘why on earth are you going to Hull? Paris is very nice!’ I’ll be honest and say that Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. But Hull is okay and the people here are very nice. Manchester is only 90 minutes away and it only takes an hour to get back to Paris on a plane. I like Hull a lot.

If you weren’t a professional footballer, what job do you think you would be doing to earn a living?

Gangster. Only kidding! I would be a basketball player. I was very good at basketball when I was younger. When I was 15, I had to make the choice between basketball and football. I chose football.

With Dean Windass gone, who is now the loudest in the dressing room?

Maybe George Boateng. He is very funny. We have a great changing room with some funny characters. Tony Warner is one and we also have Caleb Folan and Nathan Doyle. It is a very happy changing room.

At what age did you realise you had the potential to be a professional footballer?

When I was about six years old. At that age, I started playing for my home town and I realised I wanted to try and become a footballer when I was ten.

What did you make of Nicklas Bendtner’s pink boots and have you or would you ever wear coloured boots? If so, what colour would you go for?

I liked the pink boots and my friend Frank Ribery wears the same. I wear black boots. Only good players can wear coloured ones!

Interview reproduced from CITY Magazine – the official monthly magazine of Hull City AFC. To order logon to www.tigerleisure.com