With 22 Premier League appearances, how do you rate your first season in England for Southampton?
I am quite satisfied. I arrived when the season had already started. I started with Brest (Editor’s note, he played in five Ligue 1 games this season). This is also why I wanted the club to maintain itself because I am part of the season! I managed to adapt pretty quickly, I think. I knew that there could have been a more or less long adaptation moment. I managed to have playing time, to adapt to a new championship, a new culture, a new country. I’m glad I made so many appearances. In addition, we held on, so it’s a good season for me.
It was your goal to play in England, you have no disappointments?
Any. It’s the best championship in the world, it’s a huge experience to be able to play against these teams.
I have big ambitions with this club
Thomas Tuchel said that the level and the requirement were quite different in England, that the change was brutal. You confirm ?
Me, I did not find it brutal. Afterwards, yes, we feel a difference because the overall level is higher. There are better teams, more competition in each club, therefore necessarily more requirements. If you want to play, it’s harder than in some championships. This allows you to progress and adapt afterwards in all the world championships.
Does this translate into daily training?
Of course, but this year was even more complicated because we had even more condensed matches than a normal year, due to the covid. The training sessions are not intense all the time because there are so many matches to follow …
As in Brest, it took you a few months to get tenured, you even played a Premier League 2 game with the reserve. You never doubted?
Never. I was offered to go and play a match, it was voluntary on my part because I didn’t have much playing time. I knew that my turn was coming and that it was a good opportunity for me to play. 90 minutes, to pick up the pace before making my debut in the Premier League. It was a normal course, I expected it. I was even ready for it to last longer because I knew that the conditions in which I came were special. There is a lot of competition, with experienced players in my position, so I wasn’t surprised.
In terms of language, did it go well?
I come from quite a distance, I have a school English. At first it was a bit complicated. There were a few people who spoke French, like Yan Valéry who was then loaned out mid-season, so that helps a bit. I am progressing little by little, understanding has become quite easy on a daily basis. I’m still looking for my words but I manage to make myself understood.
The click is this big performance against Liverpool (1-0 victory, early January) who won you your place?
I had played a few games before too. But it’s always rewarding and it marks the spirits when it is against one of the best teams in the world. I think I scored points then. And, collectively, it’s the only game we’ve won against a Top 5 member this season. You could say it’s my best moment of the season, even if I haven’t really thought about it!
Not even your injury in February (thigh strain) was a drag, you found your place right away …
I got back to my place quite quickly, for a reason too: that at my post, there was an injured person just after me. So the coach needed me faster than expected.
Collectively, despite the maintenance, we can say that the season is finally average, especially remembering the good start of the team?
It’s complicated to judge the season, there were so many unforeseen events. There has been a pretty complicated time with the covid within the club. There were also a good number of injuries… At one point, we were a little out of breath because it’s hard to manage everything and the level is so demanding. We had a very good start to the season which allowed us to maintain a certain number of points in advance. So I will say a decent season, even if it’s frustrating.
The biggest regret is this lost Cup semi-final against Leicester?
We weren’t starting favorites… Of course there was a final at the end. It is above all the fact of telling ourselves that we could have done something very big. But Leicester are a very good team, they did not deserve it, we were also happy with our course.
For you, Southampton is a step in your career, do you aspire to even higher?
I don’t know, a career cannot be anticipated. For now, I’m happy to be here and want to join in the long term. I have big ambitions with this club which, for me, can do very good things in the league as in the Cup. I’m really thinking about Southampton right now, I don’t know what the next few years are going to be. In any case, I am determined to leave a mark.
I am very attached to Brest, even outside of football, there was the birth of my daughter in the city.
Did the Stade Brestois bring you a lot in your early career, are you grateful to this club?
I wouldn’t be in Southampton without Brest. This is the club where I was able to explode in the professional world. Brest trusted me, I am very grateful to this club. I am very attached to it, even outside of football, there was the birth of my daughter in the city. I only have good memories and strong moments there. I really hoped they would hold up.
Do you feel that you still have some under the pedal, you still have axes of progression?
Of course, otherwise I would have won everything already! Notably offensively, in all aspects. I think overall my main qualities are defensive. I am in the right league to progress on it because it is carried towards the attack. In any position you can score goals. I hope to progress at this level.
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