2023-10-11 19:02:38
At 24, Ibrahima Konaté established himself in the French team in the center. The Liverpool defender, 11 caps, in some way succeeds Raphaël Varane on the right of the hinge. Friday, against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, he should be associated with Lucas Hernandez in a hot match. He was this Wednesday late morning at a press conference at Clairefontaine, the headquarters of Didier Deschamps’ Blues.
How do you approach this trip to the Netherlands?
IBRAHIMA KONATE. We are playing big in this match. It’s a big match. We saw it in the first leg, they have qualities despite the heavy defeat, we have a qualification to seek. They have a rematch to play, I talk about it with Virgil van Dijk (Editor’s note: his partner in Liverpool). He told me about a very intense match at home. The Dutch are waiting for us around the corner but we want to finish first in our group. They know we are a good team.
How do you judge the Netherlands, whom you largely beat in the first leg (4-0)?
They were missing players but that’s not an excuse. We had a fantastic start with 3-0 in thirty minutes. We have to work on this basis and try to have a good match even if it will be hard.
Are you one of the coach’s relays?
It’s important to have players who have responsibilities. I like to have them. Not just on the pitch but also in the life of the group, with the supporters, the people we meet.
What assessment do you draw from your 11 selections?
I managed to come to the French team. This is success. The most difficult thing is to stay there while working in a club and having good performances. I have a positive outcome, with the World Cup, the final, the qualifying matches. There is still work to do and I hope to be here for a while longer.
Are you a must-have in the selection?
I would never allow myself to say that, especially in the French team where the competition is enormous. It’s not in my mentality. If I have an important role to play, I will do everything to meet expectations. We play for the rooster, for the nation. Our objective is not to concede any goals in all of these qualifications. To put it in a box, somewhere.
Is Virgil van Dijk, the Netherlands and Liverpool defender, a role model?
There are very few defenders who have managed to have as good a career as him. I learn a lot alongside him. My goal, and he knows it, is to have a better career than him. My number 1 has long been Sergio Ramos.
What do you think of Thierry Henry’s exit on the mental health of footballers, which would not be taken into account enough according to the Espoirs coach?
I really liked that Mr. Thierry Henry raised this subject. It is a very important subject. Critics play on mental health. Maybe journalists don’t care about that but it weighs heavily on us. The criticism hurts. I can count on friends to support me but some are younger and have fewer friends. This can be seen when a player is isolated. You have to try to reach out to him when things aren’t going well, trying to get into his head so that he opens up, makes him feel better, gives him reassurance.
???? Thierry Henry on the mental health of players and the situation of Beka Beka:
“I really like this question, it’s very important (…) no matter the level of society, everyone has their problems. It’s no longer taboo to say that I’m afraid or that I don’t feel well” pic.twitter.com/z15lo2NclU
— the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) October 9, 2023
Symbolically, are you Raphaël Varane’s successor in the selection?
Having taken up the torch, no. Not yet. It’s one of my goals but I’m still far from everything he’s won, his track record, everything Raphaël Varane has achieved.
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