Asked at a press conference this Saturday, before the shock in the 8th final of Euro 2024 against Belgium on Monday (6 p.m.), Ibrahima Konaté admitted his frustration at his status as a substitute for the Blues for the start of the competition. The Liverpool defender admitted to feeling the blow from a “lack of rhythm” following repeated thigh injuries.
Not a single minute in this Euro. Having come with “a lot of hopes of starting this competition”, Ibrahima Konaté admits to being at the very least “frustrated” by his little playing time in the French team while Didier Deschamps preferred the Upamecano-Saliba hinge at the start of this Euro.
If the Liverpool defender still recognized at the Blues press conference this Saturday, a “lack of rhythm, felt through training”, which would explain his status, he nevertheless wanted to recall the impact of his recent injuries on his current level: “A 100% “Ibou” would never have sat on the bench”, launched Konaté who despite everything says he remains “ready for every match”.
A discussion with Deschamps on his role
Already sidelined during the rallies last September and November after a hamstring muscle injury, several relapses at the end of the season with Liverpool already cast doubt on the defender’s ability to be truly fit for the France team. If his tenure during the Euro preparation matches against Chile and Luxembourg was reassuring, an exchange with Deschamps before the first match against Austria already clarified his place in Blue, he revealed at a press conference. “It’s clear that there is this frustration (…) but I know that I have an important role to play with the substitutes who can also be frustrated at not playing,” continued the 25-year-old. .
“No matter who starts or who comes on, we have to be ready because we don’t know what’s going to happen. We have to stay focused for this complicated round of 16 against Belgium,” he finally concluded two days before the clash.
SIEM, with Valentin Jamin and Loïc Briley, in Bad Lippspringe (Germany)
