His 90 meter height never goes unnoticed. On the ground his commitment is impressive. Denis Zakaria, who has worn the armband since the start of the season, “is a good leader”, underlines his teammate, Ghanaian defender Mohammed Salisu.
“For me, who has only been captain of the youth team, it is a privilege and something quite great to be captain of Monaco,” said the person concerned at the start of the season. Very invested in his mission, he immediately made us forget the taciturn Wissam Ben Yedder.
Salisu: “His role is very important”
“He knows when to talk calmly with young people and when to put more pressure on them,” explains Salisu. His role is very important because our entire team is young. We need experienced players. Since the start of the season, things have been going very well. »
Mohammed Salisu's press conference
Zakaria has, in fact, several functions in the Monegasque collective. He is first and foremost a leader by example. Author of two goals and an assist in L1, as well as another important goal in Zagreb (2-2) in the Champions League, he showed his ability to go beyond his already essential function of stabilizer of a team always very focused on the offensive.
Moreover, Zakaria was absent due to injury during the only two championship matches lost by Monaco this season, in Nice (2-1) and against Angers (1-0).
On November 23, after a month off, Zakaria helped Monaco beat Brest (3-2), even if “it was not easy in terms of rhythm”. And Adi Hütter is relieved “at the return to his best level” of his most important player.
A winning duo with Adi Hütter
Revealed in Mönchengladbach after growing up at Young Boys in Bern, Zakaria was, during these two important stages, trained by the same man: Hütter, with whom he maintains a quasi-filial relationship.
Also, after an inconclusive transfer to Juventus Turin at the end of January 2022 (13 matches played in half a season), then a lackluster loan to Chelsea (11 matches played) the following season, the Swiss international (57 caps) had need to bounce back with a coach who would fully trust him again.
Still in contact, the two men therefore decided to work together for the third time in their careers. Monaco paid 20 million euros. But everyone is happy about it. Because Zakaria has taken on a new dimension. With the armband, he became a big brother in the locker room and on the pitch. His humility is as appreciated as his level.
“I’m a pretty calm basic captain,” he explains. Afterwards, on the pitch I try to help our fairly young team. But it's a pretty easy role with a team like that. »
“Defend my teammates”
Thursday, the day after the defeat against Benfica (3-2), his first of the season, Zakaria spoke again with Hutter.
This time, the subject more specifically concerned his relationship with referees as captain. Because the Swiss did not understand why he had been warned the day before.
“He is the captain, and the rule is clear: a captain can have a conversation with the referee,” specifies Hütter, who comforted his player and asked him to continue to play his role as mediator.
“I like talking with the referees when it’s to defend my team and my teammates,” he said at the start of the season. Of course, you have to speak quietly. It's something I'm learning, which comes with time. »
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