Yohan Cabaye: I love Football Manager, and now I'm playing it in real life at PSG

Former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has told Ladbrokes that he loves playing Football Manager, and revealed that he now gets to do it in real life in his role at PSG.

• I'd really like to go to their offices one time... I've got a couple of questions for them.
• "I've always loved Football Manager, but now I have the chance to play it in real life! I have less time to play these days, with my new role as director of the academy at PSG. I joke but it really is like Football Manager in real life."
• "Even if you're a club now without the financial capabilities to go and send scouts all over Europe... just play this game, and you'll have an understanding of some players! Honestly, just take a look at the game and, most of the time, those statistics and attributes are close to reality."
• "Trust me, a lot of footballers play the game. Antoine Griezmann, obviously, is one. But I used to play with Gael Clichy, as well. In Euro 2012, we played together; we started a season while we were away with France!"
• "I'd really like to go to their offices one time... I've got a couple of questions for them."
  

I've always loved Football Manager, but now I have the chance to play it in real life! I have less time to play these days, with my new role as director of the academy at PSG. I love helping to develop young players and bring them to the top and educating. I joke but it really is like Football Manager in real life. 

The people working behind the scenes for that game have done such an amazing job over the years. You know, they've managed to create a game which is really close to reality. It's unbelievable. What's crazy is that the players' qualities are so close to reality, too, in my opinion. That's so impressive, how accurate they are.

I'm so curious; one day, I want to go into their offices, just to understand how they work, because it's unbelievable. And, you know, even if you're a club now without the financial capabilities to go and send scouts all over Europe... just play this game, and you'll have an understanding of some players! Honestly, just take a look at the game and, most of the time, those statistics and attributes are close to reality. 

It's so funny, you know, there have been times where I've been playing the game, and I've come across players who I end up playing against in real life - it's crazy.

Trust me, a lot of footballers play the game. Antoine Griezmann, obviously, is one. But I used to play with Gael Clichy, as well. In Euro 2012, we played together; we started a season while we were away with France! I used to joke with my teammates, because I'd always manage the team I was playing for in real life at the time, and so I'd always joke with my teammates about how well - or not so well - they were doing for me in my game. 

I wasn't bias towards myself, either, by the way. I'd sub myself if I needed to... whatever was best for my team! It's a tough call but you've got to make them!

 I know Will Still is someone who has referenced the game in the past, and I also know someone who I used to play with at Lille - he used to coach in the second division in France, and he was also playing the game a lot, as well!

I'd really like to go to their offices one time... I've got a couple of questions for them. I love the design, and everything about the game is fantastic. But I just want to ask them if it would be possible for us to be able to build new stadiums the way we would want to, as players of the game. You know, so we can choose ticket prices, and all of that kind of thing. I want to be completely involved in all of that kind of thing, so I'd love to be able to speak to the creators of the game one day!

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