A newcomer to the French national team, the goalkeeper spoke to the media about his first steps with the squad. A speech full of freshness and ambition.
At Clairefontaine
His first impressions with Les Bleus
“It’s good that you saw there was a bit of emotion (smile). It’s a total discovery, like everything else that’s been happening for me since August. It’s a source of pride and privilege, and when you climb the steps and enter the château, there’s something different. You reach a milestone, you enter a new world with teammates around you who have prestigious careers. We’re here to enjoy it, keep our feet on the ground, but I also want to fit in well, train well and stay as natural as possible.”
His relationship with Mike Maignan
“Seeing Mike again (he worked with him at LOSC) made me very happy. We hadn’t seen each other in real life for three years. It was great to see him face to face again. Putting the gloves back on with him will also be an emotional moment, even if we’re here for work. Mike was an example to me when I was 16-17 years old, with a keeper of his stature, you look, I had my eyes wide open and I took things from him. You build yourself up as you go along, but he was there at the right time. I’d like to thank him, we’re meeting again here, we said we would, it’s a nice story.”
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Any regrets about missing out on the Olympics?
“It’s difficult to answer, I’d just come back from injury, I was in the rehabilitation phase, I was back on the pitch on July 15 with LOSC and the Blues had been in preparation since the beginning of June… We had the Champions League play-offs. If I can do everything, I’ll do everything. I love soccer and competition. It was a dilemma, either the play-offs or the French team. The president (Létang) made the choice and I understand it. After that, given the remarkable progress made by Les Bleus, I do have a slight regret, as it was an enriching adventure for them. On the other hand, we went through to the play-offs, but we had to make choices. If I’d been able to do both, so much the better, but that’s not the case. It’s also largely the Champions League that keeps me here.”
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His ambitions for the French national team
“I’ve climbed the steps, it hasn’t been 24 hours, but it’s good to have ambition, and that’s what a top-level athlete should have. Right now, we’re clearly in a phase of adaptation. I’ve got Brice Samba and Mike Maignan in front of me, and we’ve got to respect these goalkeepers. I arrive with humility. Today, I’m not looking for ambition, I just want to enjoy myself. My performances at club level will help me evolve, but today, I’m arriving quietly.”
The circumstances surrounding his arrival in France
“I wasn’t told before the list, but it was made clear to me that I was going to be there. I was in my car, and of course the vibrations from the phone made me realize very quickly what had happened. It’s also mentally exhausting, trying to keep up with everyone, while managing your period of satisfaction. Accepting the life change. I approached it calmly.”
SEE ALSO – Les Bleus training at Clairefontaine on Monday evening
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His position on the players’ desire to strike
“I’m 23, if I complain that there are too many matches, I’ve understood nothing. I don’t feel like complaining. Lately, we’ve been playing nothing but big games. We earn a good living, we have so many advantages…”
His soccer idols
“When I was younger, I really liked Hugo Lloris, the rising star, but I arrived a little too late to meet him. You could call him an idol (with Lloris). I used to watch the goalkeepers I played against. I knew Mike (Maignan), but I don’t idolize him. I watch a lot of what the great goalkeepers do, and I’m not the type to say to myself that I’ve got to do what he does. I mix things up and stay true to myself. I don’t want to do what a Courtois or an Oblak does, I’ll take a bit of what he does, but not everything. To create his identity as a keeper.”
A move from Lille to become number 1 for Les Bleus?
“I play for LOSC, we’re in a great nation, all the players play for very big European clubs but there are stages above that. When you play higher up, you’re watched more, you have more demands. The number 1 spot depends on a very big club, and you have to be clear about that.”
His strengths and weaknesses
“I don’t have any weak points, but I do have areas for improvement. The footwork, being as precise as possible in the restarts and decision-making. That’s what gets you to the top level. After that, of course, there’s everything to do with managing space and positioning, but that comes with experience. It’s going to help me improve. You can’t be perfect, but I want to get that little bit right. Strong point? I think I’m pretty quick, and my footwork helps me achieve everything I do.”
His life change with his call-up
“I’ve only been here 24 hours and I’ve got everything to do in my career. The French team is a dream come true. It’s my country, my father is a police commander, my grandfather in the army, I have a culture and values that represent all that. It makes you dream. I don’t put any pressure on myself, I never have. If I have to evolve, and if one day that’s going to happen (tenure), it’ll be because my work will have been well done.”
The France-Israel context
“We’re obviously aware of what’s going on around us. It’s not a normal match, we’re going to act as if… We have compassion for what’s happening in the Middle East, even if we’re still soccer players. We’re going to try to ignore it. We’re in the business, and we’ll do the best we can.”