“The World Cup has become a goal”, admits Youssouf Fofana
Before receiving Clermont on Sunday (5:05 p.m.) with AS Monaco, Youssouf Fofana returned to the slap received at Trabzonspor in the Europa League, his chances of participating in the World Cup with the France team and his status in the Monegasque locker room .
Youssouf, how do you explain this heavy defeat (4-0) suffered on the lawn of Trabzonspor on Thursday?
It’s hard because the score doesn’t reflect the game. It hurts the ego but we’re on our feet and we mustn’t stay on the defeats. This is not the first and it will not be the last of our career. This season on a superb chance to play all three days. You have to use it as a force and move forward.
Coach Philippe Clément spoke of a life lesson…
I think we are too hasty. We had the impression that we had to immediately come back to the score. It was perhaps not the best choice to make because we each did it on our own. This is a lesson for the future and we are going to make sure to work on this point to better manage matches when the scenario is not favourable. We must all react together.
Have you spoken to Alexander Nubel who made a mistake and conceded four goals?
I don’t think he needs everyone to come up to him and reassure him. Alex is a very calm locker room man. There will necessarily be players who will talk to him, but I don’t think I’m one of them. Kévin Volland and Ismail Jakobs have a strong relationship with him. It would be better if they were talking to him.
But it is also important the trust between his teammates…
I agree but I think the confidence of the coach is much more important than that of the players. If you have the confidence of the coach, the players whether they like you or not don’t care! It’s like your colleagues and your boss… So if the coach aligns himself with a player, it means he has his confidence and therefore he will have that of the players.
With your status now as an international player, what is your role in the locker room in this kind of situation?
Status doesn’t mean much. From the start of the season, I knew I was going to be a locker room manager. But for me, I’m more of a leader on the pitch. In the locker room, I haven’t backed down yet and the words to speak to the assembly… It will come, it’s only a matter of weeks or months.
How do you explain it? Is it because the words don’t come or is it more vis-à-vis the locker room?
I will perhaps speak more to those who can speak to the group, but I will therefore not speak because I will perhaps use words that are not necessary… When speaking to a group, you have to know how to find the words so that everyone understands and there are some who are perhaps more sensitive than others and it must be understood and respected.
You are very demanding of yourself, is that also why?
My relatives tell me that I am too hard but personally I need it. That’s also maybe why I don’t speak up when things aren’t going well. The requirement that I put on myself I will perhaps put it on everyone and the group did not ask for it. For example, the coach knows that I am demanding of myself. So when he talks to me, he tries to slow things down. I don’t hear it that way, I always want to go faster the higher.
What gave you this first summons to Blue?
Humanly it brought me many things. I gained confidence and I also have more perspective on things, to prepare and understand the matches. Then I’m not going to lie to you, I spent only a week with the France group.
The World Cup in Qatar in a month, is that a goal?
I’m not going to be a waffle. I was in selection at the last truce, suddenly it became a goal. In the end you realize that you are not that far off. I don’t focus on it. The coming weeks will be decisive. I will do everything to be at least in the selected candidates and the coach will make his choices. I will have to come out of it without regret.
Does it add pressure?
Really not at all! I hope you believe me (laughs).