“There Are Just Moments When He Doesn’t Wish to Do Certain Things.” (OR: Barthez is Back!)

For sheer entertainment value, you just can’t beat Fabien Barthez.

He’s scheduled to be back on the pitch for Nantes this weekend against Guingamp in the French Cup after being in training for two weeks. (You’ll remember that he hasn’t played since the World Cup final.) And coach George Eo says that yes, Barthez will still be playing. Despite walking out of training on Wednesday. (Scroll down to the bottom of the article link.)

Says Eo: ‘There are not any problems. There are just moments when he doesn’t wish to do certain things. For me, the subject is closed and I am concentrating on the match.”

(Do you think I could use the “There are just moments when I don’t wish to do certain things” excuse next time I just don’t wish to do certain things? Or do you have to be an eccentric French goalkeeper for it to work?)

In an interview with Football.fr, Barthez discusses his decision to return to Nantes after a chat with Nantes President Rudi Roussillon: “I felt that this was someone sincere, I met a man who [opened himself up] in front of another (…) I rely on him 300%. If not, I would have remained at home. I have what [I need], I was not on the street and I was not depressed as some believed.”

Of course he wasn’t depressed. You can tell, because he looked so damn good in every photo I saw during that time.

Oh, wait. That was somebody else.

And in news that must be making current France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet consider stocking up on cyanide, Barthez is still talking about a return to Les Bleus. Says Fabien: “I can’t see myself saying ‘the French team is over.’ Otherwise, I might as well stay at home. If I want to always test my limits, I have to think of Les Bleus, of the highest level. Greg (Coupet) has to put up with it, like I have to. It’s not more difficult than that to understand.”

I’m not Catholic, but I just said a couple of Hail Marys. I love Fabien, but…

Let’s all say a little prayer for Coupet’s health and well-being, shall we?