The Real Morgan Schneiderlin

Everton midfielder gives a candid interview on his total dedication to his family and football - and why he is a “happy man” with the Blues.

- Paul Mcnamara

I know my dad was proud of me and everything I did was for them, for my family, to provide for them.

It is 14 months since Morgan Schneiderlin went home to the tiny village of Zellwiller in France for his dad’s final days.

Albert Schneiderlin passed away on 12 September 2018 and four days later his son played for Everton against West Ham.

Morgan was replaced one minute before half-time.

“My dad was in a bad condition for a couple of years, so I knew it would happen one day” says Schneiderlin.

“I went back to France to spend his last days with him. His funeral was the following week [17 September, 24 hours after Everton’s meeting with West Ham].

“The manager told me he needed me for the game and that he believed in me. I jumped on a plane and played the match.

“I was drained. Drained mentally. Drained physically because I had not trained.

“But I tried. I gave my best.

“If the manager needed me, I would play. It is my job. “After, I said to myself and my family, ‘Why did I play this game?’

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have.

“But you live with no regret.” Does Schneiderlin suspect his dad would have told him to play?

“Yes. That’s why I played.”

On the last day of Albert Schneiderlin’s life he learned he would have a grandson.

“I had the chance to talk to him the night before he passed away, face to face,” says Schneiderlin.

“We wanted to keep the sex of our baby secret.

“But I told him my baby would be a boy.”

Mae Schneiderlin was born on 10 October 2018.

“It was a blessing for that time,” says Schneiderlin.

“My dad passed away, then I had my son.

“I wasn’t playing and I was sad about that – but maybe it was a blessing in disguise in that period.