Mohamed Koné looks back on his broken hand and his incident with Toby Alderweireld: “I just touched his shoulder, he added more”

“He grabbed my ankle with his foot. I was afraid of re-injuring myself when I was just coming out of a period of unavailability. Afterwards, I blamed myself, because I’m not used to it to react like this”, confides the 22-year-old doorman with hindsight, of unparalleled kindness which contrasts with his gesture at Bosuil.

In his defense, it must be admitted that the Antwerp central defender played the move well. “I just touched his shoulder with my hand. He added more as he let himself fall. He plays the game well.”continues the Ivorian international with a smile on an incident now closed, even if he did not discuss the phase with the ex-Tottenham player after the match.

“I was still thinking about this action while everyone was telling me that I had a good match. Besides, I don’t think there was a penalty. The yellow card, yes, but the referee (Monsieur Boterberg) wanted to put it on me since the start of the match. He kept telling me to play fast, just like the assistant. And he went to see Adem (Organized) at halftime so I could do my 6 yards faster.”

The first injury of his career

The reduction in Chery’s score combined with 7 minutes of added time could have made the Zebras shudder despite the 2 goal lead. This was without counting on the regained calm of their goalkeeper. “I had no pressure. I was calm. No, really, it was just the adrenaline from the fear of another injury that made me react like that on Alderweireld.”

Adrenaline which also pushed him to play a full half with a fractured left hand on the Standard pitch. “It allowed me to overcome the evil. On my way out, the full weight of my hand collided with Sutalo on his goal just before halftime. I felt pain, telling myself as usual that it was just a blow. I usually take it. And it happened. It started again with Ayensa’s penalty which I stopped. Afterwards, I didn’t feel anything at all.”

To the point that the Ivorian international did not mention this contact in the mixed zone after the meeting. “It’s true that it’s weird. I don’t know how to explain it. I was so into my game that I didn’t feel anything at all. It was when I got home that it started to bother me. I couldn’t sleep and I realized it could be serious.”

For the first time in his young career, Koné discovers the solitude in which an injury locks you. “These are difficult times. Fortunately, I didn’t have to have surgery. You want to come back quickly to help the team, but you absolutely had to respect a 6-week deadline. You spend your days in the gym, then you go home. I was happy as soon as I was able to touch up even just the foam balloons.”

During this time, his partners suffered as much as he did with a series of defeats. “We weren’t feeling well at the time. The goalkeepers did the job though. It’s unfortunate for Theo (Defourny), who could only play two matches before his shoulder injury. In this case, the third must ensure and that is what Martin did (Delavallée).”

The trigger against Standard

So much so that Koné could have feared that the hierarchy would shake up. Was he afraid for his place? “No, I always encouraged him. It’s good for him and for me too. I like competition. She boosts me.” Above all, Rik De Mil had the presence of mind to be clear very quickly. “When I arrived, the coach and Cédric (Berthelin) announced to me that I was number 1. That didn’t guarantee me anything, because there was competition, but at least it was clear. When I see what Luis Enrique does in Paris, by not establishing any hierarchy and rotating his goalkeepers in big matches, I can’t understand. By doing this, you can lose both of your guardians.”

Charleroi has, in any case, found its own. And his 7 saves on the field of number 1 helped to offer the Hennuyers a benchmark match. “We can explain this performance by the mind. By opening the score after 2 minutes, it galvanized us. I saw anger in my teammates’ eyes. But the turning point came in the previous match, when we equalized against Standard at the last second.”

Enough to offer new perspectives in this illegible season. “We have to go for the top 6. We have the capabilities. Provided we win the next three matches.”assures Koné with ambition. Given the context, it would be unfortunate if Sporting did not have one, while showing a certain caution. “I have several dreams, including playing in Europe with Charleroi’, he slips mischievously. If he repeats his performances since the start of the season, it would not be utopian for one of his to become a reality.