French football star Oriane Jean-François exclusive: "I never forget all the sacrifices I've made"

Oriane Jean-François: "I was on the verge of depression"

Jean-François is not the type to stay in her comfort zone.

New club, new city, new language... the football star didn't do anything by half last summer when she left France and Paris Saint-Germain to join Chelsea FC in London.

"It was a big risk I took when I left," Jean-François said. "It's not easy, especially when you're coming back from a period of doubt and injury. But I knew I was joining a big club with a big squad, a lot of talent and high standards."

With Chelsea, the midfielder won everything at the national level, claiming the League Cup, the FA Cup, and even finishing undefeated en route to the Super League title.

"It was a big season, we did the treble. I think it's been a while since the club won so many trophies in one season, but I wouldn't say I'm satisfied with my season. I didn't feel that comfortable with my performances. But I'm giving myself time. I have to accept that my body needs time to recover."

It's been a long road to get Jean-François smiling again, as she does often in the interview.

Every cloud has a silver lining, so eternal optimists say. And much like their forever pursuit, the French footballer is an eternal fighter.

So when she suffered her ACL, she willingly underwent the long rehabilitation process because, at the end of it, she hoped she would be selected for Paris 2024.

It was a dream that would never come true.

“I hadn't played in any official matches, I hadn't really returned to competition, but you always want to think, why not... but it was too soon, it was really too soon.”

It hit like a double blow for the Guianese, who had also been ruled out of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia due to injury.

"Honestly, whether it's the World Cup or the Olympics, these are competitions that I haven't really followed because mentally, it wasn't easy to accept. I was behind the team, but it was really hard to watch."

When asked if she ever feared the door was closed on returning to the international level, Jean-François admitted that as her Paris dream was denied, she considered the possibility.

“Frankly, I had periods of doubt. It really wasn't easy. When the Olympics were cancelled, it was hard to take because that was the goal of my comeback.

"I had to focus on Euro 2025, which was really the main goal of my season. There were times that were more difficult than others. When you don't play for weeks, when you train and it's dark and cold... When I think back on it, sometimes I thought I was on the verge of depression."

She continued: “My whole life revolves around soccer. So when things aren't going so well with soccer, everything else becomes more complicated. Being in a new country, not having my family, being far from home—it's a lot of change, but I clung to the Euro, which kept me going.”

Click here to read article