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Muangthong United’s Charyl Chappuis<\/strong> is one of the most instantly recognizable names in Thai football. Born and raised in Switzerland, the midfielder hit the highs of stardom and success when he arrived in Thailand, winning trophies with Buriram United and helping the War Elephants to win their first AFF Cup in over a decade as part of the nation’s ‘Golden Generation.’<\/p>\n However, after an injury-ridden spell at Suphanburi, Chappuis has been forced to reinvent himself in order to return to the top in a unique and compelling tale of hardship and perseverance. Football Tribe’s Gian Chansrichawla<\/strong><\/a> and\u00a0Obb Deewajin<\/strong><\/a> caught up with Chappuis to talk tactics, social media pressure, the Thai national team, and his fight to return to his best.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are your thoughts on your own performance this year?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n This was the most difficult year of my career. I have never had a situation like this, as from the beginning of the year I didn\u2019t play and I wasn\u2019t in the plan for the first eleven. It was something new. I was very disappointed. But I think I did quite well the times I came in, especially against Port and PTT Rayong, I showed I was ready and I really worked hard on myself. I waited for my chance and luckily I got it with Gama.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, it was not a great season for Muangthong, especially in the first leg. But now, I am happy to play. I\u2019ve played almost every game since Gama arrived. In terms of points, I think we\u2019ve done quite well, but of course, I want more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You know, it\u2019s not easy to be Chappuis. I have to tell you this. I play well against Bangkok United, and everyone is talking about the national team. But in the same way, it also goes in the other direction quite fast. If I play badly in one game, people say: \u2018he\u2019s not good, he\u2019s not fit, he has other things on his mind\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I think right now I am going in a good way, but I want more and I want to be back in the National Team. Some people say I should be in the National Team, and that I deserve it, but maybe I don\u2019t deserve it. I have to prove it more, and I have to be more consistent over a lot of games. The chance will come, and I want to be ready when it does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You said in an interview with Muangthong that you had a difficult start to the season and that your family and friends helped a lot.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Like I said, I have never had this situation since I started playing football. I always played, I was always a main part of the team. When I started in Buriram it was like this, but then the injury hit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On loan at Suphanburi, again, everything was around me. Then I came to Muangthong and for the first six months, it was the same again because Sarach was injured and I played the main role in the midfield.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Then, 2018 was a very difficult year because we didn\u2019t have a preseason. We only played games – we had the Leo Cup, the AFC Champions League – and then a week before the season started three of the best players left – Theerathon, Kawin, and Teerasil. That\u2019s why I think 2018 was an up-and-down season but in the end, I think we did alright for what we had. This year, I think we did it to ourselves. I think our coach [Pairoj] was not good enough for the standard at Muangthong. He\u2019s doing pretty well now at Sukhothai, but [at] Muangthong, where so many people talk – it\u2019s not easy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But, Muangthong is [the best] when you are winning. I even have to say this because I was in Buriram, and I now know both of the top teams in Thailand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This year, I needed [my family] because it was really hard, it is something new, and I am not the kind of player who likes to sit, I get angry and frustrated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n On that point, when you were at Suphanburi, you were sort of \u2018the guy.\u2019 Now you\u2019ve moved to Muangthong, where you have guys like Teerasil, Theerathon, Sarach\u2026other guys who are heroes. What was the change like for you?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Well, I know all of them from the National Team, we had a great three-four years where we played almost every game together so we have a good relationship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For me, I don\u2019t want to be \u2018the guy.\u2019 This is what you have to understand. I am a team player. I don\u2019t need to be \u2018the guy\u2019 or whatever. I want to be part of the team, I want to play my style. Of course, it gives you a confidence boost if you are \u2018the guy\u2019 or whatever you want to call it, but I don\u2019t need that. I just want to play football, be happy on the field, and win.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After the kind of injury I had, I really realized how much I love football. Being on the field is the best thing. But, the pressure that comes with being \u2018the guy\u2019 is huge. Especially in my situation, where it comes not only from football but also from other stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You talk about growing up and being part of the team. With the Muangthong kids, they just won T4 and have been training with the first team. We\u2019ve seen many times that Thai kids work well as part of the team, but they can\u2019t make the jump to the first team and fall to the side. What are your thoughts on the kids here?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n I grew up in Europe, I see that when young kids come up they are happy and proud of themselves. I was the same when I was 17, I thought \u2018oh, I did it.\u2019 But, to make the next step is the difficult part. Especially when the older players are there, you are a bit scared, you have too much respect. But on the field, you have to forget it. That\u2019s what is missing here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, look at Datsakorn. If he was playing, nobody would touch him because hey, he\u2019s Datsakorn. But it is exactly this [aspect] that you have to change as a young kid. Look at Peem [Patcharapol Intanee] – he is exactly that. He is always asking me, and I try to help him. He sees me as an older brother or something, because we are very close, often roommates, and now we have played together for many games. He is an amazing player because he is different. He has a different attitude, he can already speak English. Things like this make a difference and explains why he is where he is now. Gama gave him the opportunity and he took it. That\u2019s what young Thai players have to realize when they get the opportunity they have to be ready because you might not get many chances.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So how was your upbringing in Switzerland different to what the kids get over here? What are the kids missing in their training here that you got?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n When I was young, I went to a sport school where I studied as well. So I had training about 8-10 times [a week]. I see here, they have maybe four times a week. So I had that and school as well. I would wake up at six and get back home at nine. I had a lot of friends who were not playing football, and they would ask me to go out, and I said that I couldn\u2019t because I had to study and train the next day. You really have to sacrifice if you want to make it, and I think many people understand that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, it is a big privilege. The \u2018football life\u2019 is amazing right now, but you have to understand when you can enjoy life and when you have to train. I am also lucky that I have a dad who supported me from day one. I don\u2019t think many kids here in Thailand have the privilege where a dad can support them and bring them [to football], so I was lucky in that sense. But it\u2019s about training, and I\u2019m not saying you have to train ten times, but you have to train well and choose to take pleasure in the right moment. I am really thankful that my parents taught me these things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You mentioned Peem, who recently got a call-up to the senior national team. How has his development been this year?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n He\u2019s been excellent. Last year he played many games as well as a center-back, and this year he has moved into midfield, and I think he also played many games with Gama in the U23\u2019s. Defensively he is amazing. He still has to improve, and he knows this by himself. He is a guy who wants to improve, who is always listening, and this is always important – that he wants to learn. He deserves to be where he is now and I told him to enjoy every single moment. You never know how football is, maybe he will play, and his career will take another step. Like I said, he\u2019s a great guy and he deserves it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n You\u2019ve worked with both Gama and Bandovic, the two most successful foreign coaches in Thailand. How are they different and what makes them so successful?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Actually, the difference is not that big. What they both do well is that they understand the Thai culture, and they know how to handle the Thai players. For us foreigners, it is pretty easy, but for Thai players it is not easy. You have to give them a bit of space, but at the same time you have to tell them what to do and how to improve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Their styles also are pretty similar, it\u2019s like defense first and then counter-attack or transition. I am really thankful for this time with Gama, he is a very interesting coach. I have had many coaches here – one of my favourites was Popov [at Suphanburi] who is now working in Myanmar. And there\u2019s Zico [Kiatisuk Senamuang], of course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But what makes the difference for these two guys is that they understand the Thai culture, they respect the Thai culture, but they also try to [have an] influence at the same time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You played so well as a box-to-box midfielder. In Thailand\u2019s recent games against Vietnam and Indonesia, people were praising Phitiwat in that role. Thitipan also plays well in that role. Where exactly do you play? Because when you sit deep, you can pass – but you also you have the energy to go up and down. Where would you prefer to play?<\/b><\/p>\n I prefer to touch the ball as many times as I can. If I touch 30 times in 10 minutes for example, I have an amazing game. But some people in Thailand, especially people who don\u2019t understand football, they prefer me as a box-to-box midfielder. Because they think that I run, I fight – they don\u2019t see that if I play as a \u20186\u2019 and switch balls or pass, the don\u2019t see it, and they think I am not doing well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, after my injury – I\u2019ll tell you the truth. If I had this kind of injury in Europe, a cartilage, I don\u2019t think I would be able to come back. They wouldn\u2019t give me the time. In Thailand, you have more time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I think also Tanaboon – you\u2019ve been asking why he plays as a center-back. Because as a center-back you have time. You see the game. In midfield, you have to watch – front, back, left, right. As a center-back, after this kind of injury – against Muangthong, he played amazingly. But I understand now for the national team why you are complaining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For me, I told Gama that I want to be a box-to-box again, it is more interesting, as I can attack more. But now we are playing with two, so it is more difficult to be a box-to-box. But my preferred position would be to run the game as a six.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you see yourself reinventing your game for the National Team to being a \u2018Regista\u2019\u2026like the \u2018Thai Pirlo.\u2019 Because Tanaboon doesn\u2019t have that ability to switch the play or break the lines with his passes<\/b>.<\/p>\n The difference between me and Tanaboon is that defensively, he is much better than me. He has very long legs, and he is using it very well. He also can read the game. But for me, I like the long switch passes, or to hold on to the ball and calm the game down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re asking about the national team, I can\u2019t answer yet because I am not in the squad. And now, we are playing with two midfielders in Muangthong, it is different also. If I get the chance, I would play anywhere he [Akira Nishino] would like me to play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Like I said, people like me more as a box-to-box. I think during the 2014 [AFF Cup] I was also a box-to-box with Sarach and Chanathip. It depends on how the coach plays, and what the coach wants. I talked to Gama, I said that I saw what he did with Thitipan. Before he was with Gama, Thitipan also had a difficult time and wasn\u2019t in the national team. But then he changed with [Gama\u2019s coaching] – I want to make the same step. I want to improve the game and go back to the game that I had. He\u2019s helping me right now and I am thankful for that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But about being Pirlo, I can\u2019t answer. I want to be Chappuis and that\u2019s it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you first arrived in Buriram you played more attacking, and you\u2019ve moved back more over time. Was that your conscious choice, or is that because of your physical condition, and fitness, and so on.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Yeah, at Buriram I was an attacking midfield. Then I came to Suphanburi where Popov also played with a diamond. I was a box-to-box and fitness was great. I played every game, over the games I got my fitness, but then I got injured. So I think it was the injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I know myself, so I always wonder how this happens because I train so much, I take care of myself, but I didn\u2019t see any improvements. I did some tests for myself and I saw I had some problems in genetics, so I had to do double or triple, and I have to take care more, and this kind of stuff. I started this year, because I just found out more. It needs time, but it will improve and maybe I still have a few years. I want to be back in the national team and prove everyone wrong who doesn\u2019t believe in me anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But about the positions, I was happy to play as a number six in Muangthong. At the beginning when I came, because we also played possession, and everything went through me. Like I said, I don\u2019t want to be \u2018the man,\u2019 but when everything goes through you, you get so much confidence. Then you also dribble more, you can pass players, but if you don\u2019t have confidence you will just pass backwards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One important thing I learned in my career is the importance of confidence. Of course, there\u2019s fitness, or skills, or whatever. But if you have confidence, anything is possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you could choose your ideal midfield to play with, out of any Thai players, who would you pick?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n I would play with three in the midfield. And\u2026huh, I never thought about this. Well, I would have me and Thitipan in front, and as a number six…Tanaboon on top form. I like the young kid from Chiangrai (Phitiwat), he\u2019s like a machine, and he\u2019s really professional. But right now Tanaboon has the experience. Give Phitiwat one or two years more and he will be the main player.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are your thoughts for next season?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Of course, it is to have a better season, both personally and as a team. I think as a team we are headed in a good way to build something really big in Muangthong. If you give Gama the time and the chance he can really build something, and I hope we keep the main squad in Muangthong and build a little bit more around. You never know in Muangthong because every year we change the foreign players and only Heberty stays, so let\u2019s see what happens there. But, it was a disappointing year for us to say the truth, but I think we had quite a good reaction in the second leg. I think it was the game against Bangkok United that changed everything – it was also lucky, but you need luck in football. But for next year – champion. We are Muangthong. I want to be on top form next year from the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You briefly mentioned the pressure you get, especially on social media. A lot of people forget that footballers are humans as well…<\/b><\/p>\n Well, I love Twitter, especially Thai Port fans\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n In football, everyone has their own opinion. If you ask me, I was disappointed that I didn\u2019t get a call from the national team. But maybe I wasn\u2019t good enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I know when you are on the top, everyone wants something from you. And I was on the top. And everyone came and asked, can you do this and that..and everyone loves you. But then, when you\u2019re injured, nobody comes. Then you only have your family, which is why I am so grateful for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you think in Thai football we pay enough attention to the effects of social media and how football players interact with fans. We see that some players respond badly or aggressively, like when they had a bad showing during the Asian Games. Do you have any advice for them?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m lucky because I can\u2019t read Thai. I\u2019m really lucky. But the problem is my girlfriend can read Thai. I think if I could read Thai, I would also read all the comments. I know Muangthong fans can be very hard, but in the same way they love you when you win. So, the best thing for [players] is not to read it. Because even if you read and you think you don\u2019t care, it will always affect you. And if somebody attacks you really bad, you [will] want to fight back and you shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you think you left Europe too early?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n For me, it was a difficult situation in Europe. I broke my right foot, then when I came back I played a season in the second division. I had the chance to play on loan at a bigger team, Lugano, I played all of the games and we were first, but then we started to lose. A new coach came and I didn\u2019t play anymore, so then I got the chance with Buriram. You can always look back at this and that but that\u2019s football. I am very happy with what I\u2019ve done, with the tournaments I\u2019ve won and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n What was your impression of Thailand before you arrived? Because before then, you didn\u2019t think of playing here, or representing the national team. So when you first got here, what did you think of the football?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Well when I got here I had two amazing games, my first two games were against Brisbane Roar and then Muangthong. We won both, in front of a full stadium, so for me it was an amazing feeling. In Buriram, it was really only about football. At that time, we were sleeping every day in the camp\u2026it was a great time, but after a while you miss your family and your friends. But if you are a young player, as you see now, Buriram is a top place to develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The owner is doing really great at that. He always sacrifices everything for the city and the team. I know some people don\u2019t like how he handles some stuff, but in the end, he wins titles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coming from Europe, were you prepared for the expectations the Thai fans would put on you? Did anyone tell you that people would be expecting big things from you?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Not really, honestly. I met (Buriram United Director) Tadthep first, he came to Switzerland and invited me to Thailand. He said that we have a great opportunity, not only on the field but also around it. I didn\u2019t believe him at first, but in 2014 it was as crazy as it could be. My phone was ringing all the time to go here and go there. I had good luck and bad luck at the same time. I think it was the first time after 12 years that we won the AFF Cup. Before then I had never scored many goals but this time I scored four. And in the Asian Games, we played very well and only lost to South Korea in the semi-final.<\/span><\/p>\n At that time I was young, I didn\u2019t read the news, and I didn\u2019t care. I just wanted to play football.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How have you changed as a person from when you first arrived in Thailand to play football and now? How has your outlook changed on football and on life in general?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Before, I came and I just wanted to play football and enjoy. I became the superstar, I got injured, I came back, and I was still the superstar. It was annoying. Everyone wanted something from me, after a game I was still there for 30 minutes taking pictures. I was young.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But now, I really appreciate everything and I want to give back. If it takes 30 minutes I\u2019ll stay there and take pictures. Because without the fans, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am now. I have learned a lot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Back at that time, it was really hard to handle it. Having no privacy anymore. But now, I just enjoy every moment. This is what it is now. I\u2019ll just enjoy playing football and be thankful. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Muangthong United’s Charyl Chappuis is one of the most instantly recognizable names in Thai football. Born and raised in Switzerland, the midfielder hit the highs of stardom and success when he arrived in Thailand, winning trophies with Buriram United and helping the War Elephants to win their first AFF Cup in over a decade as part of the nation’s ‘Golden Generation.’ However, after an injury-ridden spell at Suphanburi, Chappuis has been forced to reinvent himself in order to return to the top in a unique and compelling tale of hardship and perseverance. Football Tribe’s Gian Chansrichawla and\u00a0Obb Deewajin caught up with Chappuis to talk tactics, social media pressure, the Thai … Continue reading “TRIBE TALK: Charyl Chappuis, Thailand and Muangthong United Star”<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":20394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,1627],"tags":[220,773,104,95,200,68,1756],"class_list":["post-20375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thailand","category-tribe-talk","tag-buriram-united","tag-charyl-chappuis","tag-muangthong-united","tag-slider","tag-thai-league","tag-thailand","tag-tribe-talk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20375"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20407,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20375\/revisions\/20407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/football-tribe.com\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2019\/10\/70234281_2677661895591905_6245853394460737536_o-800x533.jpg\")
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