Manu Koné (23 years old) extended his somewhat crazy summer with Lyon on Monday. Silver medalist at the Olympic Games, loaned by Mönchengladbach to AS Roma, the midfielder celebrated his first selection in the French team on Friday against Italy (1-3) before making his first start on Monday against Belgium (2-0). And the former Toulouse player rather made an impression in an unprecedented association alongside N’Golo Kanté and Mattéo Guendouzi to compensate for the very many absences in the playing sector (injuries to Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaïre-Emery, Adrien Rabiot without a club).
Comparing Deschamps to Pogba… for his cards
However, it didn’t all start off particularly well. As against Italy (cautioned two minutes after coming on), Koné received a yellow card after four minutes for a late gesture on Amadou Onana. A start further spoiled by a dangerous loss of the ball. The rest was much more attractive with accurate interventions and a quality of recovery that gave the Blues some breathing room. He finished the match with 80 balls touched, 10 of which were recovered, and eight duels won out of 13.
Although he didn’t really appreciate his two yellow cards in two games, Didier Deschamps appreciated what he saw. “Apart from the beginning, which I also understand, with the bad news like when he came on against Italy, to get cautioned,” noted the coach. “When you’re a midfielder, it’s never easy. I called him up to have followed him well and against a team like Belgium, it’s very good. He wasn’t alone, he needed experience alongside him. It’s a good step for him and it will obviously require confirmation.” On TF1, “DD” even saw in this first match a similarity with a certain Paul Pogba… in terms of cards. “When you’re young, learning comes through fouls. Paul Pogba got a red card for his debut (sent off in his second selection in 2013, Editor’s note). What he did is very good,” he insisted.
“He had a very good match, he helped us a lot in recovering the ball,” added Mattéo Guendouzi, his partner in midfield and soon to be opponent in Serie A with Lazio. “He was also very clean. I hope he doesn’t have this match during the (Roman) derby because we’re going to play against him soon.”
Koné, for his part, is enjoying this successful stint and this appointment with the Blues, even if the expected returns of the midfield leaders in the coming weeks will possibly reduce his chances of being recalled in October. “That’s what I like, taking pleasure above all in defending, in attacking,” he declared. “I like having the ball. When you have the ball, it’s easier. I enjoyed myself today thanks to the team who gave me confidence. I’m a calm person, I can handle the pressure.”
- RMC Sport
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