Thursday evening, the French team will face Brazil at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, not far from Boston. Before this match, the Blues have settled in the Four Seasons hotel in the capital of Massachusetts, where they will also stay this summer. RMC takes you on a tour of this important place for the finalist of the last World Cup.
200 Boylston Street. This address may be unfamiliar now, but in three months it will be at the heart of attention in Boston. This is where the players of the French team will stay during the World Cup, as their base camp. On Wednesday morning, this very busy street is surprisingly quiet at just 3 degrees. In front of this 5-star hotel, with a facade of red stones, a few members of the Blues’ security are making round trips outside. Some staff members are returning from a run in the public park just opposite the establishment. The atmosphere is peaceful and there are few onlookers venturing in front of this very chic place. A calm atmosphere far from the crowd that was present on Tuesday when the French team bus arrived.
As they pass through the green swinging doors, the hotel reception also offers a very soothing atmosphere with numerous chandeliers with dim lights. The reception lounge on your left is typically American in style, with armchairs of different colors and a portrait of Martin Luther King hanging on the wall. On the floor, huge colorful carpets also try to cover a beautiful green and blue tiled floor. The setting is serene. The hotel is not fully private at the moment, but the other guests are being very discreet. It’s as if they are unaware of the somewhat special guests in Boston for the Blues for a few days.
“A chef originally from Troyes”
Once inside this meticulously decorated room, we are greeted by the two chefs who will serve the players and staff during the competition. One of them is Xavier Rousseau, the usual chef of the French team. Highly appreciated by the players, he doesn’t hesitate to personally prepare their favorite pasta dishes. This time, he will be joined by chef Patrice Martineau, who works all year at the Four Seasons hotel in Boston. This chef, originally from Troyes, is delighted.
“We are delighted to host the Blues. I am happy to work with their chef. We have made dishes from Massachusetts but also very French,” shares the main interested party. “We have already served many sports teams, but these are smaller portions. We have a lot of pasta dishes, rice, local fish, and seafood. In June-July, we will also have a lot of farm products. We can use their products.”
“A piano for Tchouaméni and Camavinga”
After the introductions, the two chefs take us upstairs via a grand staircase with a chandelier in the center. Downstairs, a black screen has been placed outside to prevent any curious onlookers from seeing the players. The first floor of the hotel will become the players’ main hub of activity in Boston. This essential place will consist of a new reception room called “Today.”
The players will all have to gather there before heading to the dining room together. There is also a large room with multicolored seats. Exiting this imposing room, a beautiful black piano stands. “That one, it doesn’t move!” remarks a member of the French team’s staff. The France group can indeed count on some piano enthusiasts like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Alphonse Areola.
“We are used to this type of guests”
The sleeping quarters will be located on two floors of the hotel: one for the staff and another exclusively for the players. During our visit, room number 407 is presented to us. It consists of a king-size bed with the hotel logo on the sheets, a large screen, a side table, and a bathroom just to the right of the entrance. A comfortable space but not overly luxurious. Some of these rooms will be occupied by the Blues’ staff, but larger suites will also be assigned to the group.
The hotel in the capital of Massachusetts also has a large indoor pool but with a cold bath. The gym is also in place. On Wednesday morning, Mike Maignan was cycling alongside ordinary clients. The video room is also well set up and ready to be used before the match against Brazil. “We are very excited and proud to have been chosen to have the team with us. The brand is proud. It’s truly an honor. I hope they will be pleased with our services and our team. It’s really great for our brand. We are used to this type of guests. I haven’t met the players yet, but I quickly passed by the room this morning. Everyone seems really lovely,” shares Tania Matthews, sales director of the Four Seasons hotel.
“Change of training center?”
As for the hotel, the Blues seem to have found their feet. However, negotiations for the training center are ongoing, but they are taking longer than expected due to financial aspects.
According to RMC Sport, not all contracts have been signed yet between FIFA, the Blues, and the private institution Babson College. This issue could see a new development in the coming hours. If this blockage persists, the French team may have to revise their plans and switch to a new identified training center.
