Eliot Matazo (Diablotins, Monaco) on the Grill: “Cesc Fabregas is my big brother, he instilled in me the requirement and the work ethic”
Chouchou du Rocher, he earned his stripes in Monaco under Philippe Clément and settled into the midfield of the Diablotins… before plotting, perhaps, his future in the Red Devil. He evokes Remco Evenepoel, adult football, Charles De Ketelaere, shitty matches, Roger Federer, his daronne, Ngolo Kanté and theelastic. But also the routine of invisible work, Vincent Kompany, the pressure of money, Thiago Alcantara, the short hook, Ronaldinho and the captain’s armband. And of course… the fries. Eliot Matazo past” on the grill “.
Like the other Imps, he watched his elders Thursday night against the Welsh (2-1). Eliot Matazo embodies this new generation of Hopes… and future Devils. This Friday evening in Louvain against the Netherlands (6:30 p.m.), he is engaging with the U21s in a duo-pack of friendly matches (with a duel against France, Monday in Valenciennes) towards the Euro next summer. The Brussels native trained in Anderlecht joined AS Monaco in 2018 where he is playing his 2nd season in Team A… under the guidance of a certain Philippe Clement.
” The big difference between the foot of adults and the foot of young people is this pressure of victory and the daily requirement “explains the defensive midfielder, who only knew Neerpede before heading for the Rock. “ In an adult locker room, you are not given any gifts… but that’s part of the game: there is cunning, mischief, sometimes even a little vice (sic). The stress ? I don’t remember having suffered it… but it may happen when I play in a Champions League final (wink). Here, at the Diablotins, we’ve known each other for years: we even have the same age reflexes and that creates a kind of alchemy that made the difference in our qualifying matches for the Euro (Editor’s note: 6 successes, 2 shares, 0 defeats). Even those who don’t play push the starters, and that’s one of our strengths! “