As treachery, back-stabbing and rebellion threaten French World Cup hopes, it’s clear relations with their manager are not exactly harmonious. Last month, the most hated man in France gave a frank interview to Psychologies magazine… and revealed some surprising insights.

Psychologies: You come in for a lot of stick. Why do you feel the need to provoke such violent reactions?
Raymond Domenech: I don’t see them as violent reactions. When I was a player I felt like a Roman gladiator playing to the gallery. I’ve always had a love–hate relationship with the public and the media… people love me or hate me. I like it that way. That’s who I am. Pressure and passion make me feel alive.

Do you think people are unjust to you?
RD: When you play football you’re always having to deal with injustice. As a player I used to tell myself, ‘If that’s the way it is, what am I going to do about it?’ I need to fight, it’s how I am. I’m a rebel.

At the risk of alienating the players?
RD: The players love me. Apart from the ones I sack, which is understandable. There’s no point in their criticising me. When you’re a player, you spend most of your time navel gazing. I know — I used to be one. But once you’re the manager, you have to think about the team.

How do you think it will go at the World Cup?
RD: I’m waiting to see what the players are going to do. It’s up to the players to show what they’re worth. I’ll certainly help them achieve their ambitions, but if they don’t want to take that responsibility, I won’t either. Being a guide, an umbrella, a shield, that’s over. I’ve got nothing to gain from that. And nothing to lose.

You proposed to your girlfriend live on TV during a particularly difficult post-match interview. For a man brought up in an undemonstrative family, it was a rare moment of openness.
RD: You’ve got no idea what it took for me to lift the lid on my emotions! It’s taken many sessions of transactional therapy and NLP for me to learn to express my feelings.

Are you in analysis?
RD: No, don’t say I’m in analysis or in therapy, people will think I’m in treatment. Let’s say I did a psychology course to understand myself better.

Was therapy helpful?
RD: It’s essential if your job involves communication. I’ve always wanted to know how my mind works.