Since Monday, the Blues have gathered at Clairefontaine for the October international sequence. On the program, the meeting against the Netherlands on Friday in Amsterdam, which could validate the qualification of the France team for the Euro (June 14-July 14), and a friendly against Scotland next Tuesday in Lille . This Wednesday, Deschamps’ men have training behind closed doors at the end of the day. Just before, Ibrahima Konaté answered questions from the media in the Clairefontaine auditorium.
“We are playing big in this match. It will be a big meeting. We have a qualification to seek and they have a revenge to take (4-0 defeat on March 24 in the first leg). I discuss it with Virgil van Dijk (his club partner at Liverpool). He told me the match would be very intense, but they know we have a good team. Like us, they have injured people. They are waiting for us around the corner and we are going there (Friday in Amsterdam) to seek qualification. »
“In the first leg they were missing players, even if that’s not an excuse. In the first leg, we got off to an exceptional start with 3-0 after 30 minutes. It won’t be the same on Friday. You have to identify the points where you were a little weak. We will try to have as good a match, even if it will be complicated. You should never leave with certainties before a match, especially such a meeting. The objective is to finish first in this group and we want to win every match until the end without conceding a goal. »
“I managed to come to the French team, it’s the first point and the most difficult thing is to stay there. I have to work in the club, perform well when I am called up. The results are positive with a World Cup final, the Euro qualifications which went well, but the road is long. There is still a lot of work to do and I hope to be here for a while. It’s always important to have players with responsibility in the team. I like to have some in selection. Responsibilities are also in the life of the group, behavior with partners, supporters. If I have the opportunity to be part of this category, I will do it with pleasure, but if it is later, I will wait. »
“If I’m a must-have (with the packages)? I would never allow myself to say that, especially not in the French team with the competition at my position. That’s not my mentality. You have to work every day and perform when you are here. If I have an important role to play, in relation to the absentees, I will do everything to meet the coach’s expectations. When we are in the selection, we play for the rooster and the nation, we do not care who is to our right or left. »
“There are still a few matches left but I hope we don’t take them until the end. This is my goal as a defender and also that of the whole team. If we succeed, we will put it in a box at the end of the qualifications (smile). I don’t have any precise explanations (for not conceding a goal), but we hope to continue like this from Friday against the Netherlands. »
“What he has done so far, few have managed to do in the world of football? I learn a lot alongside him. My goal is to become better than him (smile). I have other models, like Sergio Ramos. »
“I really liked this moment where Mr. Thierry Henry spoke about the mental health of the players. We don’t emphasize it enough. You, journalists, criticize yourself, but it affects mental health (smile). Maybe you don’t care, but these are difficult aspects for some players. Today, it’s easier to express yourself. Personally, I am lucky to be able to express myself on this subject but this is not the case for everyone. We all have a role to play, to see when someone is not doing well, to discuss, to exchange ideas. This can change things. »