Francis Coquelin has revealed his key motivations that drive him to succeed.
The French midfielder had a long journey before establishing himself as a regular in the Arsenal team, which included loan spells at Lorient and Freiburg.
Coquelin says that throughout his career he has always wanted to prove doubters wrong and achieve the very most that he can.
"I remember being with a teacher at school and in a meeting she actually said to mum that I would end up on the street - to a 10-year-old!"
Francis Coquelin
“In life you always come across people who think that you are not going to do something,” he told Arsenal Player. “It is nice, it is a motivation you keep in your head. You think, ‘Okay, that is what you think. Now I’m going to show you what is going to happen’.
“I remember being with a teacher at school and in a meeting she actually said to mum that I would end up on the street - to a 10-year-old! That was over the top, big time.
“The other day, I was talking about it to my missus. I would actually like to find this teacher and show her now that I’m working hard, playing football and hoping things go well.
“You pick up inspiration from everywhere, even from the movies sometimes. I watched ‘Any Given Sunday’ the other day, with the speech. I pick up things from any sport. I think there is a great champion in any sport, so you can get a lot from anyone.
“To turn a passion into my work is not something many people get to do. This is a motivation. Obviously I have motivation from outside too, from my family who are always behind me. My missus is always behind me and the kids as well.
“I finish football and come back home and they are still playing football and want me to play or be the referee. They are always behind me and the team and it is a drive for me to make them proud of me.”
Francis Coquelin
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