Djibril Sidibé has not said his last word!
12 starts in Ligue 1, 949 small minutes of play, no decisive pass to put in their mouths. Here is the record of Djibril Sidibé (29) in the colors of AS Monaco this season. Part of the Asemists during the first leg, the international tricolor (18 selections, 1 but) nevertheless experienced a much less exciting second part of the exercise. Injured in the hamstrings last January before being relegated to the Monegasque bench, the native of Troyes especially paid for the sparkling dynamics of the Principality club in the final sprint (nine wins and a draw in the last ten matches). Third at the end of the 38 days, the ASM of Philippe Clément will play, as such, the play-offs of the Champions League.
Djibril Sidibé tackles Philippe Clément!
Asked about this delicate end of experience on the ASM side, the former Lille resident, overtaken by Aguilar and Vanderson in the hierarchy, nevertheless wanted to keep a positive speech on the overall balance sheet of his 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. I played the game until the end, even if it was hard to accept”. And for good reason, bitter and frustrated, Sidibé then did not fail to recall his truth, in particular concerning the negotiations around his extension: “I did not hear arguments that reassured me, not in relation to playing time but in the future. The contract, in terms of duration and salary, was also not up to what I deserve in my opinion, without being too greedy “.
“My refusal to extend has to declare the result. Against Strasbourg (0-1, March 13), I am neither bad nor exceptional, and I go out at the break. I asked the coach (Philippe Clément) for the reason, who 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.”thus released Sidibé in an interview granted to The Team. Convinced of having been relegated to the bench for contractual reasons, the former Toffees defender, French champion with ASM in 2017, did not miss the opportunity to send a well-supported tackle to his direction and more precisely to the successor of Niko Kovac on the Monegasque bench.
Qatar in sight!
“I know that every footballer has to question himself, that’s my mentality. Things are difficult for me but I have never cheated. I didn’t ask for minutes, as the coach said, because I don’t mind competition. If the club decides to put on youth, I can hear it, but the way disappointed me, compared to everything I’ve done. I was playing with Kovac (sacked during the holidays), Clément immediately gave me his confidence and when my extension was impossible, everything disappeared. I’m disappointed with the ending but Falcao didn’t have a flamboyant goodbye here, neither did Jovetic. There is very little recognition in the middle.. Disappointed, the one who notably reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2017 is nonetheless ambitious and now intends to bounce back.
“I don’t want to go to exotic places, I want to play as many matches as possible at a very high level, with the World Cup in my sights, even if I know that I am going from very far. 2018 is unforgettable but it’s over, I’m not going to shout “I won the World Cup, look at me”. I want to experience these sensations as much as possible because physically, I no longer have any problems. If I feel good, I don’t see why I would deprive myself of these dreams. I’m still hungry. (…) I am still ready for the very high level and the injuries have passed. Anyway, the big clubs have enough sophisticated tools to scan the players and I am very well supported on the physical aspect, I have no worries.. It now remains to know the future destination of the 2018 world champion, he who already has several options across the Rhine.