Brand new to the French team, the goalkeeper was present in front of the media to discuss his first steps with the selection. A speech full of freshness and ambition.
In Clairefontaine
His first impressions with the Blues
“It’s good that you saw that there was a little emotion (smile). It's a total discovery like everything that's been happening for me since August. It's a pride, a privilege, when you climb the steps and enter the castle, there is something different. We pass a milestone, we enter a new world with teammates around you who have prestigious careers. We are there to enjoy, to stay with our feet on the ground, but I also want to integrate well, train and remain as natural as possible.
His relationship with Mike Maignan
“Seeing Mike again (he rubbed shoulders with him at LOSC) made me very happy. It's been three years since we last saw each other in real life. Seeing him in front of me again was nice. Putting the gloves back on with him will also be an emotional moment, even if we are there for work. Mike was an example when I was 16-17 years old, with a goalkeeper of this stature, you look, my eyes were wide open and I picked up things from him. As you go along, you build yourself up, but he was there at the very right time. I thank him, we meet again here, we said so, the story is nice.
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Any regrets about not having participated in the Olympics?
“It's difficult to answer, I was coming back from an injury, I was in the rehabilitation phase, I returned to the field on July 15 with LOSC and the Blues had been in preparation since the beginning of June… We had the Ligue des Ligue play-offs. champions. Me, if I can do everything, I do everything. I love football and competition. It was a dilemma, either the play-offs or the France team. The president (Létang) made the choice and I understand it. Afterwards, with the remarkable career of the Blues, it leaves a slight regret because they experienced an enriching adventure. Conversely, we made it through to the play-off, but we had to make choices. If I could have done both, great, but that’s not the case. It’s also largely the Champions League that makes me here.”
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His ambitions in the French team
“I climbed the steps, it hasn't been 24 hours, it's good to have ambition and that's what should fuel a top athlete. Here, we are clearly in an adaptation phase. I have Brice Samba and Mike Maignan in front of me, we must respect these goalkeepers. I arrive with humility. Today, we can't talk about ambition, I just want to have fun. My performances at the club will help me progress, today I am arriving slowly.”
The circumstances of his arrival in Blue
“I wasn't told before the list, but I was made to understand that I was going to be there. I was in my car and inevitably the vibrations of the phone made me quickly understand what happened. It's also mentally exhausting, trying to respond to everyone, while managing your satisfaction period. Accept the change in life. I approached this calmly.”
SEE ALSO – Blues training at Clairefontaine Monday evening
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His position on the players' desire to strike
“I'm 23 years old, if I complain that there are too many matches, I don't understand anything. I don't want to complain. Lately, we have only played big matches. We earn a good living, we have so many advantages…”
His idols in football
“When I was younger I really liked Hugo Lloris, the rising star, I arrived a little too late to meet him. We can talk about an idol (with Lloris). The goalkeepers I played against, I watched them. Mike (Maignan), I knew him, but I don't idolize him. I watch a lot of what great goalkeepers do and I'm not the type to tell myself that I have to do like him. I mix it up and stay myself. I don't want to do what a Courtois, an Oblak does, I'll take a little of what he does but not everything. To create your identity as a guardian.”
Number 1 place among the Blues requires a departure from Lille?
“I play for LOSC, we are in a great nation, all the players play in very big European clubs but there are steps above. When you play higher up, you are looked at more, you have more demands. The number 1 place depends on a very big club, you have to have this lucidity.
Its strengths and weaknesses
“I consider myself a complete goalkeeper, I have no weak points but points to improve. The kicking game, still being as precise as possible in restarts and decision-making. This is what takes you to the very high level. Afterwards, obviously, there is everything that will be in the management of space, of placement, but that comes with experience. This will nourish me to improve myself. We can't be perfect, but I want to hit that little thing. Strong point? I consider myself quite sharp, my footwork helps me achieve everything I do.”
His change of life with his summons
“I haven't been here 24 hours and I have everything to do in my career. The French team is a dream. This is my country, my father is a police commander, my grandfather in the army, I have a culture and values that represent all of this. It’s a dream. I don't put pressure on myself, I never have. If I have to evolve and if one day that has to happen (holder), it is because my job will have been well done.
The context around France-Israel
“We are obviously aware of what is happening 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 remain football players. We will try to ignore it. We are in our profession, and we will do the best we can.”
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