It is with the feeling of accomplishment that Zoumana Camara appeared in front of the press after the victory of the U19s on Tuesday against Maccabi Haifa (3-1) synonymous with qualification for the final phase of the Youth League. Ethan Mbappé, 15 (he will be 16 on December 29), started for the first time in the competition.
What does this qualification mean for you and your team?
ZOUMANA CAMERA. It is a satisfaction, a great joy. When in the draw we saw that in our group we had the winner of the previous edition (Benfica) and the semi-finalist (Juventus), it was a great challenge. To be able to qualify before the last day, I think it’s an achievement, it’s a good thing.
What did you think of Ethan Mbappé’s first tenure in the Youth League and how do you judge his development?
He is a boy who works well, he has the right state of mind, he has a good relationship with the ball. There, he gains a little aggressiveness, he has to control it. I took it out at the end so as not to take any risks because I felt it could be borderline, but its progression is linear, it’s going very, very well. He is well accepted in the group and I am happy that he performed well today, because football is also about knowing how to seize opportunities.
What are its main qualities?
The first raise, his passing quality and his volume of play are his strengths. He has a good short game, he also has a good long game. He is a boy who can still gain in volume but he is young and that will come with time.
Do we manage differently a player like him who is “the brother of”?
No… There you ask me a lot of questions about Ethan. I treat him like the others. Other players played very well. I could mention the three-man defense, with Hugo Lamy, Younes El Hannach and Nehemiah Fernandez-Veliz. They were very strong, it’s my base. There is Yoram Zague who is the same age as Ethan and who is incredible on the right in piston. He ended up with cramps and, every game, he ended up like that, exhausted! I can name several… I know it’s Mbappé, I worked with his brother, when I see his face he reminds me of him a bit (smile). But for me he is a player like the others. There is no particular treatment.
We have the impression that in this kind of match Ismaël Gharbi is capable of incredible differences but that he gets lost a little at times, is that your opinion?
You have summed it all up but I am very happy with his state of mind and what he has been doing since the start of the season. It is an added value. I give you an example. We had a great performance by winning at Benfica. On the return he was absent because on the bench with the pros. I’m not saying it’s related to the defeat, but it’s a plus. If I had had him, we might have lost but we would have had more control and he would have been important in the truth zones. He is in the state of mind, it is a bit his generation. He likes having responsibilities, he likes having status and I’m very happy with that.
Do you confirm the rupture of the cruciate ligaments of your environment, Zoumana Bagbema?
Indeed, it is a loss for us and for his progress. He is a boy who this year had a very good progression. It pisses (sic) everyone, him first, he is very appreciated by the group. Noha Lemina? It’s a sprained ankle, we hope for a return in a few weeks.
