The importance of the match against Italy
“I know that for Italy, it is an important match because in their eyes, we are a very strong nation, with very great players. With (Ginaluca) Mancini or (Bryan) Cristante in training, they tell me it all the time. There are a lot of rivalries too, because when I play against them, of course they want to win. And me even more (smile). They are in reconstruction and they are going through a complicated moment. But we will focus on us. We know that we are France, that we have incredible players. For the coach’s first match at the Stade de France, we also want to win.”
A sentry post in selection
“Yes, I played sentry in Türkiye. I tried to meet the coach’s demands. For me, a midfielder must know how to play everywhere. I have already played in this position several times in my previous clubs and also at Roma. For me, it's not something that changes much. I had fun. It was a complicated match with other demands compared to the Belgium match, it was more of a match in duels. I tried to respond presently. For me, when you play sentinel, even if the coach gave me instructions that I had to stick to, sometimes I like to project myself. Now I was asked to play in a specific style of play and I tried to do as much as possible. I am very proud of what I was able to do in Türkiye.”
What playing in Italy brought him
“When I arrived in Italy, I was a little younger. This is my third season there, and it has brought me a certain maturity in my style of play where I have become more focused. I also didn't have this tactical culture that I have now. In my management of efforts, too, I have progressed. I think it’s all of this today that makes me the player I am. I'm really grateful for that because when I was in Mönchengladbach I was having a tough time and Roma came to get me. Today, it’s a pleasure to play in this club.”
His view of Zinédine Zidane after ten days under his orders
“It’s a pleasure to be coached by Zinédine Zidane, he’s a world legend. He manages us in a very human way. He is very sincere, very close to the players. He can speak to us separately or in front of the group. He’s very much into feeling too. It gives us all the confidence to play freely. For me, there is nothing to be afraid of. On a personal level, he told me to play the way I usually play. He had already observed me before. Otherwise, what also shocked me in this first week was his technical range in training. He hasn't lost anything. Seeing it in real life is even better, at that age too. I was little when he was at the end of his career, but to see that he still has this technique, I said to myself that in his time, it must have been incredible.
The expanded staff
“It’s a slightly broader staff. This means that he responds to all our requests, whether in care, in attention, in everything that concerns the field too. I think that’s what makes us feel good in the selection. There are new players, so it allows them to quickly settle in and quickly gain confidence. And I think that given the last performances, you were able to see players at ease, even if it was their first selection and that is pleasing. All this gives us confidence.”
What role for Fabien Barthez
“I knew him when I was in Toulouse. He was part of the staff, he trained the goalkeepers. I had already formed a bond with him at that point. When I saw it, we laughed thinking about old anecdotes. Seeing him here today is great, especially for me because he has seen my progress, as he told me. Otherwise, in the staff, he is very natural and he brings a bit of atmosphere to the team, even if he knows how to be very serious too. He works with the goalkeepers and we conceded no goals in our first two matches with him. I think that symbolizes that he works well. We hope to continue like this.”
Her relationship with Lucas Da Cunha
“I knew him in the French youth team. We have a lot of defensive memories together. I also have the pleasure of meeting him in Serie A, with his Como team which is really strong. It’s nice to see him at this level. For me, he totally deserves it. It's true that he didn't play in that position abroad, because he was my winger, while I was in midfield. So to see him today in midfield and to play with him like that, it's a real pleasure and we talk a lot. Compared to the competition, in my eyes, it is healthy. For the coach, everyone is important in the group. And for me, the most important thing is to think about the team, to move forward.
The qualities of Mike Maignan
“Mike, it’s Mike. He is an exceptional goalkeeper, captain at AC Milan. We know that when we play against him in Italy, it's complicated to score goals for him. He takes up a lot of space in the cages, with his voice too, he’s a leader. He’s a great teammate and we’re happy to have him with us rather than against us.”
The reception at the Stade de France on Friday
“We’re at home. We hope there will be a lot of noise. Being Parisian too, I like it when there is a lot of atmosphere at the Stade de France. But the most important thing is to win this match, especially for the coach's first here. It’s also been a long time since we played at the Stade de France. For me, it will be a lot of fun with, I hope, victory at the end.”
The benefit of having started in Ligue 2
“To begin with, we all have a different story. Some players will prefer to go to Ligue 2 to get playing time. For me, it fell on me because we went down (smile). Now I have good memories of it. I enjoyed it. We had a good generation in Toulouse with Amine Adli and so on. And we had a very good season. We had missed the climb, but for me, Ligue 2 is a very tough championship, especially when you are young.
