The AS Monaco squad no longer has a 2017 French champion, because Djibril Sidibé leaves the Principality free, where he arrived in 2016. Six seasons interspersed with a loan to Everton (2019-2020), it is the assurance of living many adventures in such a club, and the right side (29 years old) would have done well without the last one: part of the team during the first leg, he injured his hamstrings in January , while discussions around his extension got bogged down, and ASM then found its rhythm without him, by chaining nine wins and a draw to grab third place in L1. The 2018 world champion dreamed of a more pleasant end but he really wants to bounce back and believes in himself enough to aim for the next World Cup, in November in Qatar.

“How did you experience the gap between your situation and the success of the end of the Monegasque season?
I took on a different role by staying positive, advising my teammates, being committed to training when some players can be at 20% when the coach no longer trusts them. It was rich in shared emotions because it was great collectively and very frustrating individually. I played the game until the end, even if it was hard to accept.

Do you expect this scenario, knowing that your contract is about to expire?
Not at all, but my refusal to extend justified the rest. Against Strasbourg (0-1, March 13), I am neither bad nor exceptional, and I go out on break. I asked the coach the reason (Philip Clement), which could not give me a concrete argument. He told me that what I was doing was good in the physical, tactical and technical workshops. So I don’t see any reason other than the extension.