Magassa has been a name on the lips of the Monaco fans for a while. The Diagonale Academy product has impressed coming through the ranks at the Principality club. His chance came last season against Stade Rennais. Down to 10 men early in the first half of the match in August 2022, Magassa steadied the ship and was essential to Monaco securing a hard-fought draw. Ultimately, however, this wouldn’t prove to be the springboard for a more prominent role. 

“After that match against Rennes, I thought that having had a good match, I anticipated that I’d get my chance. That didn’t happen. My next match was six months later against Rodez in the Coupe de France. It took time, I worked hard and I played with the Groupe Élite but I was disappointed during these six months where I wasn’t playing in the first team,” said Magassa.

A dawning realisation

Magassa would have to be patient. He was used sparingly, if at all, by Philippe Clement, but he quickly earned the trust of new manager Adi Hütter. However, as the club’s pre-season preparations progressed, there was a slow realisation that Magassa would feature in an unfamiliar role. 

Largely as a result of absences and sales, Magassa, a No.6 by trade, came on against Leeds United in an LCB role for the final 20 minutes. That cameo was followed by full 90-minute matches in defence against Genoa and then Arsenal. What was unclear, however, was whether Magassa would feature quite so frequently when the season got underway. The response was a pleasant surprise. 

“Honestly, I thought I’d get game time but not as much as I have had in these three months. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to express myself every weekend and to show the coach what I’m capable of,” said the Monaco academy product, who was equally surprised by the contours of his deployment. ” I wasn’t expecting to play in this position. I was used to filling in at centre back for 10/15 minutes but never a full 90.” It is a role that he is more than happy to play, and in his own words, it is a position in which he is “flourishing.” 

Nevertheless, Magassa still perceives himself as a holding midfielder. “I like this position (No.6) because you run more, you see more of the ball, but I try to bring as much as possible as a defender. I have a lot of fun in midfield and I like the position a lot,” said the Frenchman, who cites his distribution, aggressivity, directness, physicality and risk-taking as his primary strengths. 

Elite inspirations

Whether Magassa’s future lies in midfield or in defence, he can draw on some elite inspirations. He has trained with players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile. There are undeniable similarities between Magassa and Badiashile, both of whom like to be aggressive and push into the midfield out of possession. “Similarities? I’m not necessarily sure, but they are great players and I was inspired by them. When they were here, I tried to learn from them on a daily basis, to see how they worked, how they were in matches and I solicited advice from them,” said Magassa. 

He added, “Benoît did great things at the club and he was also of course a player that played on the left of the defence. Even if I play on the left, I’m a right-footer who can also play the ball out well, which I try to take inspiration from because it was really his strength. If I can be inspired by Benoît, as a defender, I’ll be happy.”

Photo source:  AS Monaco

Badiashile, like Magassa, came through the club’s prestigious academy. The Chelsea defender is naturally an inspiration to Magassa and a relatable one. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Magassa since arriving at the Principality club. “At the start, it wasn’t easy. I was without my parents and my brother for the first time and I didn’t play a lot in the first year, but I learnt to quickly adapt.”

Magassa’s breakthrough came after the Covid break, and Monaco quickly tied him to a professional contract. The next season, he spent his time with the reserve side in the National 2. That team no longer exists and has been replaced by the Groupe Élite, which competes in the Premier League International Cup. Magassa at least partially attributes his progression to the club’s decision to create the group. “We played prestigious matches, such as the one against Manchester United at Old Trafford, like against Arsenal, West Ham United, and Bayern Munich as well. They were really high-quality matches. When you play these kinds of matches, it is easier to adapt to the professional world. It was a good idea to create the Groupe Élite at Monaco,” 
said Magassa.

The Hütter effect

Those experiences have allowed Magassa to take the next step under Hütter, under whom he has already played eight official matches. “He is a coach who has a lot of confidence in me, and I really feel that. On the pitch, he speaks with me a lot and it’s the same in training as well. Lots of that is on the mental aspects and he gives me a lot of advice on this, on how to keep focused until the end, and how to play with confidence. He is pushing me forward. I hope to repay his faith in every in which he gives me the confidence to play,” said Magassa.

Monaco are top of Ligue 1 after Round Nine, and Magassa has praised the Austrian’s ability to get the best out of a team that last season dropped off dramatically, missing out on all forms of European football for the current campaign. “He has a philosophy of football that corresponds really well with the players that are here. We have great players here and he has managed to put things in place. We have managed to adapt well because we are a team that likes to be attacking. We have great attacking players, we have great quality in our press, in our ability to win the ball back. We’ve managed to adapt to him and he has adapted to us as well,” said the Île-de-France-born player.

The reunion

However, Magassa, just like the rest of the Monaco squad, is refusing to be drawn into title talk. “It is still early. We’re only a quarter of the way through the season and the road is still long. We need to keep working hard, keep being rigorous, remain consistent and focused and fight for each other in every minute of every match and in every duel. Why not, if we keep doing that, reach our objective, which is to achieve European competition? But we’re not limiting ourselves,” said Magassa.

Whilst Monaco continue to flourish collectively, there an individual success stories. Magassa is one of them, as is Maghnes Akliouche and Chrislain Matsima. All three are now playing for the France U21 side, which gave Magassa the chance to be reunited with former Monaco manager Thierry Henry. “I already met and spoke with him on many occasions whilst I was in the academy because he was very close with the young players when he coached here at Monaco. I remember I first met him when I was playing for the U17 side. To meet with him again with Les Bleuets is something that I am really proud of. He was a great player and now a great coach too. He gave me good advice that I took on board and that I am trying to work into my game day by day,” said Magassa. 

Magassa is part of what is being described as a “golden generation,” with players such as Warren Zaïre-Emery, Mathys Tel and Rayan Cherki catching the eye. However, a step up to the senior side isn’t on Magassa’s mind. “There are lots of steps to take and there is a lot of room to progress to get to that level. I need to challenge myself on a daily basis, to learn from my errors, to seek advice, to really analyse my game. I’m trying to work day by day and not to look too far into the future. I need to focus on the steps that I have to take today,” he said.

‘I don’t really limit myself’ – Magassa

Whilst Magassa isn’t thinking about a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ side, that is not to say that he is lacking in ambition. Quite the opposite. The Frenchman is brimming with self-confidence and has the mentality to match. “I don’t really limit myself and I don’t set myself any specific objectives […] I think if I continue to work, if I stay disciplined, applied and I listen to advice and remain humble, there is no reason why I can’t reach the highest level. I think everything comes with work. You also need to avoid injuries and have good people around you, which I do. If you have all that, there is no reason not to be a great player and play in the biggest matches,” Magassa told Get French Football News.

Many of Monaco’s best ultimately make the move away, but for Magassa there is not yet any question of a departure. “I am already playing at a very big club in the form of Monaco, in a good league as well,” said Magassa. The Frenchman is fully focused on his daily development and becoming the “great player” that he believes he can become.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Photo credit: Luke Entwistle

Having accomplished everything in Germany, he wanted a new challenge, to ensure that his career did not stagnate. Top scorer and domestic champion with Barcelona in his first season in Spain, the striker has settled very well in Spain. “This place has perfectly met our expectations. We use the bike a lot, we do a lot of walks and runs, as well as water sports. I train a lot at the beach,” he explains, after stating he was worried his family would struggle to adapt to the new culture. His wife has fully embraced dancing and the local music, while he’s become fluent in Spanish. “It’s a new energy. All at once, you don’t know anything anymore. You need time to adapt to the way of working and travelling here. I arrived with a lot of questions and got the answers”, he explains.

He fully assumes his new role as a leader amongst a very young squad. “With the young players, we understood each other very quickly. They didn’t speak English, so I understood very quickly that I had to improve my Spanish. Even with this, we found each other very well on the pitch, via another language, the language of football,” explains the striker. He underlines his good connection with midfielder Pedri, a player he likes because he “understands football. He sees things, it’s easy (..) we found a good feeling even with different sensibilities”.

These connections will develop over time however, talking of his first season in Munich, where he didn’t instantly make connections with Thomas Müller and the other players. “It takes time to understand each other’s movements (…) we have a huge potential at Barcelona (…) even if the first season was very good, I know we can do better, in the Champions League particularly. We need to get to the next level and I know I can be a mentor”, he says.

In order to continue his career for a long time, Lewandowski has regularly shown he has one of the best work ethics in the game. He says he was conscious of taking care of his body when he suffered his first injury at 17 years old, beginning to work hard on that side of things from the age 19 and really asking the right questions once he was 21. He started thinking about what he could do to improve his work ethic at home, helped by his wife Anna and what his dad had taught him before he started his professional career. “He was my sports’ coach and was really annoying with gymnastics for example. I wanted to only play football, but he wanted me to do gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, tennis, hockey or being on the athletics track. I didn’t understand at the time, but I do now”, he concedes.

He is constantly evolving his preparation, using his own research, science and doctors. “But nothing beats my own sense. I adapt my programs, particularly what I eat. The world is changing and I try to understand it”, he says. “I hate zones of comfort. That’s true for my personal and footballing lives. Humans have the tendency to think that evolution is a risk. But it is not just because you change things that you are less strong. On the contrary, I am always researching how to improve”, explains the Barcelona striker.

With such a work ethic, it is sometimes hard for him to see players around him not fully exploit their potential. He took time to understand that he cannot expect the same from others than what he expects from himself. When asked whether it would have been easier to play an individual sport, he says that you are reliant on your own. “I was lucky to play at Bayern and Barcelona. The biggest challenge was with Poland and to change my expectations. For a long time, I wanted the impossible (…) it is not easy being fully conscious of the context that surrounds you”, explains the Polish captain.

He is constantly seeking to see how he can improve, which to him, feels like the best way to stay at the top of his game. “It is divisive, people look at your differently but talent alone doesn’t exist anymore, so you need to be on constant alert,” he says. “It is not one day, a month or a period. No. You need to want it every say and act like it: open your eyes, your mind and your horizon”, adds Lewandowski.

The striker talks about the psychological aspect of football and how appearances can be faulted, particularly with social media. “Two Instagram pictures won’t tell the full picture and when times are hard, you need to be able to build your bubble yourself and your family”, he says. While the world around him interests him, he says that as the captain of the Polish national team, he needs to protect the players to keep a good atmosphere, even with what is happening around the team.

Coming from Poland, like Iga Swiatek, the women’s tennis world number one, can be experienced like an inferiority complex. “I didn’t like the lack of respect, the disdain. When I started, people didn’t believe in me because I was from Poland. It had been a long time since a Polish player had reached this level (…) they tried limiting my possibilities”, he says. While Swiatek and himself have changed the public image of Poland in that aspect, he hopes that many more sportspersons will reach these levels from his home nation.

To conclude, he talks about the years to come. “This could last a long time. I do not know about after this. I have many projects, but telling you which one will get me to wake up in the morning… Coach? I don’t think so. Maybe I’ll miss the dressing room so much that I will change my mind. I know that there is an end at least (..) The after, even though it will be different, doesn’t have to be worse than my first career. I am not too worried. Today, when I am not playing, I am bored. It is a good sign. I still love scoring goals and I have not explored everything in football yet”, finishes Lewandowski.

GFFN | Tom Abadie

But one player who has gone under the radar, though, is summer recruit Salis Abdul Samed. The former Clermont man has more than managed to fill the Cheick Doucouré-shaped hole left in Franck Haise’s squad, and embodies the selfless nature of the team’s all-action approach. Abdul Samed, who, like Doucouré, is a JMG Academy graduate, has struck a midfield partnership with Séko Fofana that has served as the base for the team’s success.

Named in Get French Football News’ Ligue 1 Team of the Year, the Ghana international speaks to us about how his game has developed over the past year, and the team’s ambitions as the continental stage beckons.

RJ: Your return to action from suspension came against Reims, where you came back from behind to win despite going down to ten men. Do you think it’s a performance which encapsulates the team’s drive to get second place?

SAS: It shows that first of all, we’ve put the work in, after the team won the three matches while I was away. I wasn’t doing well after the red card, I went to see a psychologist. But in the end I was happy that the team won their games, so it didn’t trouble me too much. As for Friday, I was happy to be back at Bollaert, in front of our fans. I really wanted to play, it had been difficult watching on from the stands! 

Even after we had the red card [defender Kevin Danso was sent off after 20 minutes] we stayed solid, as we’ve been since the start of the season, and we didn’t let go. Thanks to that, we won.

You only joined last summer, but it feels like you’ve slotted into the team seamlessly. How did your arrival play out?

When I arrived, the coach and my teammates put their faith in me straight away. They helped me improve in training – I applied what I was doing at Clermont and listened to the coach in order to progress here as well. This team is like a family, so it was easy for me to adapt.

Was it Franck Haise specifically who convinced you to come to Lens?

Yes, he was the one who called my agents. He was really interested and wanted me to come, so then my agents spoke to the club. I wanted to come as well, because I felt it was the club that could allow me to improve and move forward, and I liked their style of play. I picked Lens, but there were other clubs interested as well.

Could you talk us through your partnership with Séko Fofana, how do you guys understand each other so well on the pitch?

He’s a great guy. When I arrived, he was giving me advice on the pitch – play freely, do what you know you’re capable of, go forward more often. We had some good chats, and since I’d watched Lens before I knew in which ways they would often push forward to try and score. So I said that I was happy to go up the pitch, as much as I was happy to stay back and play more defensively.

How have you experienced this rapid rise from Ligue 2 football to the Champions League next season?

I didn’t play that much in Ligue 2 – just seven or eight games – but I do the same thing now as I did back then, which is to work hard. But my first match in Ligue 1 was a bit stressful, because it was the first time I was starting a game as a professional. But I was told that hard work pays off, and because I played well I stayed in the team and kept playing for the rest of the season.

Could you talk about how Franck Haise has influenced your playing style this season?

He told me to push further up the pitch when I arrived. After our first friendly games, he and the video analysts showed me what I needed to do to improve my game. So I watched the videos after the games to correct my mistakes, and that’s helped me a lot to improve. And I’ve kept doing that since then. So the coach and also all of the staff have helped me improve, as well as my teammates.

So you feel as though you’ve gone up a level this season?

Yes, I feel as though I’ve improved offensively from my Clermont days. But also in terms of recovering the ball. Beforehand, I would win the ball back and pass it along – now, when I win the ball back, I can also bring it up the pitch myself, I’m more confident in that regard. I really feel free in the way I play here.

Is there a feeling around the club that you can keep pushing for the very top of the table in the seasons to come?

We’re like a family, so nothing will change in that sense next season, we’ll keep helping each other. We help each other when we make mistakes and we move forward together. That will be the same next season, we’ll keep working the same way. We’ll be playing in Europe, so we know that the level will be higher, so we’ll be working even harder to try and go far.

One aspect of Lens that’s attracted a lot of attention from abroad is the unique atmosphere that fans create in the stadium, it must be great to have that kind of support behind you to push you on

They push us a lot, we really feel like they’re with us. Since I’ve been here, I’ve never heard them booing a single player, even if someone might put in an average performance. They help us a lot, they understand football and know that everyone can make mistakes. When we’re tired, their encouragement helps us a lot to keep going on the pitch. We feel that they’re proud of us and that they’re happy we’re putting in the effort. And we tell ourselves that we’re doing it for them, especially when they keep pushing us in every game.

Your former team Clermont have been impressing this season, especially in the spring – have you been keeping an eye on them?

I always watch Clermont games when I get the chance, and honestly, they’ve really impressed me. When you see that a lot of the important players left last season – Mohamed Bayo, Akim [Zedadka], Vital [N’Simba] – I send messages to the players to tell them, respect to you guys and the coach for what you’re doing, I’m proud of you. Because they have quite a low budget, and now they’re eighth – what they’re doing is great, and I’m really happy for them.

Could you talk us through your World Cup campaign with Ghana?

It was the very highest level, I played against players I’d never faced before – guys like Federico Valverde, Luis Suárez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva … 

When I played against them, I could feel this was a different level. Even though we played really well, the others were simply better than us. It was really a very high level, better than Ligue 1. While I was there I tried to learn from the players there, especially those in my position like Valverde, and they influenced me a lot.

In terms of Ghana’s performance, we didn’t really have a lot of time together – even if we had some great players like Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, André Ayew, Mohammed Salisu… We had players who are at the highest level. But we had only met each other a few weeks before, we weren’t really a team in the same way Lens is, for example. At Lens, we all know each other – for example, we know that if one guy moves into a certain position, the other has to play the ball into a certain space. So with Ghana it was a bit difficult for us to play together. I think if we’d known each other for longer, we might have been able to do better.

To go back to Lens – this season, you’ve beaten the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, do you think the team has a taste for the big games that will serve you well in Europe?

As a team, we never give up, we’ll give it our all and everyone knows their job. We know that Europe is the highest level, so we need to work even harder to make sure we’re ready. We’ve beaten Marseille, PSG, Monaco in Ligue 1, but it’s not the same in Europe, there are different players and different tactics. We know it’s going to be difficult, but it’s up to us to prepare. I think mentally speaking, as well as physically, we’ll be ready. We’ll see what happens.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Speaking exclusively to GFFN’s Raphael Jucobin, the Brazilian looks back on a season’s that’s seen the Auvergne outfit take on and beat the likes of Lyon, Nice and Rennes, putting them on track for a first-ever top-half finish.

The 26-year-old, whose career has already seen him feature in five different countries, says he continues to aim high. It’s that ambition that has Borges aiming to help Clermont qualify for European competition next season – a goal that appears eminently possible, off the back of the team’s sensational spring streak.

RJ: Congratulations Neto, you’ve been named in GFFN’s Team of the Year. How do you judge your season on a personal level? 

NB: It’s been a great season for me personally, and for the club as well. We’ve achieved our goals. It’s amazing to be named in your team of the season. I wasn’t imagining this for my first year in the league. It’s a huge achievement, I wasn’t expecting it and I’m grateful for it.

How did you move last summer play out, what were your reasons for choosing Clermont?

My agent called me while I was in Portugal, and the talks started then, when I was playing for Tondela. They knew my contract was expiring, they made a good offer and then we talked. We came to visit the city and the club. I saw their facilities and it really attracted me. Their project, as well – I spoke with the club president and the director, and they told me about the project that they had for the near future. They’ve proved to me that what they were saying is true – we’ve done really well this season, and I hope we can keep going like this, and that the club keeps growing.

The team notably went on a seven-game unbeaten run in the spring – how did it all come together for you to reach this kind of form?

It was really about working hard and our commitment to each other. We’re a family in the dressing room – if someone’s going through a tough time, we’ll try to help him out and keep everyone involved. That’s the key to team sports, I think – we’re all really good guys in the dressing room. We talk a lot, we make adjustments when we need to. Everyone is humble enough to listen and keep working hard.

We have to give credit to the coach as well, he made the adjustments and they worked out impressively for us. We weren’t expecting to go on a run like this, but if you work hard and everything goes well in training, it’s only natural that you would then earn those points. During the run we beat Nice and Lyon, which are big clubs in France. The other clubs were also playing well and we managed to beat them. I think our commitment to each other was the key to the run we had.

I scored in the last game, but unfortunately we lost [2-1 against Brest], but that’s the nature of this league. Two mistakes can cost you the game. We’ll make the adjustments that we need for the next game to get the three points again.

How would you describe coach Pascal Gastien’s approach, how does he want you playing?

He’s an amazing guy. He understands that it’s first about being a human being, and a coach after. Once you understand that he wants the wellbeing of all the players in the dressing room, we all embrace his ideas and run for him. In terms of what happens on the pitch, he’s a really smart guy. 

We adapt ourselves according to each game – OK, we have our style of play, but we’re open to changes depending on the opponent and the different situations. The guys are smart enough to listen and carry out the coach’s instructions – there’s a really impressive connection between ourselves and the coach, and he’s really happy about that. It doesn’t matter who plays, everyone in the team has a good level – everyone responds positively when we need them, and that’s what a team needs. 

If at the start of the season we’d held on to some points that we dropped, right now we could be fighting for European competition. If everyone sticks around for next season, we could make some huge improvements on this season, so let’s see – we hope for the best for the club.

What were your first impressions of Ligue 1, in terms of the style of play?

I’d watched some Ligue 1 games in the past, and I knew it was fast and physical. Coming into the league, I had to adapt myself because of how physical the league is, and the players are so good technically. You have to be 100% concentrated all the time, if you lose focus for even one minute then you concede and you lose the game from that. 

And the players! Some of them can decide the game in a matter of minutes. The technical and tactical stuff, it’s just impressive at this level. I doubted myself before coming to the league, but now I want to see where I can go. When you make the team of the season, you want to keep improving to see how far you can go.

Maybe even a place in the national team, one day?

I’m open to the opportunity, you never know. Obviously it’s very hard to make it to the Brazil team, but if the chance comes, I’ll grab it, as I’ve done with every opportunity that’s come up in my life. We’ll see, I’ll keep growing and improving, and then it will be down to the guys who make that decision.

What’s it been like settling in France, off the pitch?

At the beginning it was really challenging, because we don’t speak French. Now, we’re trying to learn the language. But as for the rest, people in Clermont are really friendly and trying to make it easy for us. I think from now it’ll be easier since we’re learning the language. I would say that we’re happy here, with my family. We’re stable, my kids are growing up here, and we’re very happy.

You moved early on in your career from Brazil to Sweden – that must have been quite a dramatic change of scenery!

When I was 12 years old, I was playing for Vitória, in Salvador. But at some point my parents couldn’t afford for me to travel there anymore and I had to stop to focus on my studies. I thought that my dream was over. But then a guy – who to do this day is a friend of mine – came and told me that he would give me an opportunity in [the Brazilian state of] Sergipe. I played for six months at one club there, then six months for another, and then I got my opportunity at Tubarão in Santa Catarina, back in 2017. Then my agent brought the guys from Hammarby over to watch a training match, and then they started to watch my games. After we won the state cup, they asked me whether I was interested in going to Sweden, and I just accepted the challenge.

When I went to Sweden, it was very, very cold! It  was the first time I’d seen snow in my life. It was a shock, and it was really impressive. But I could adapt quickly, I don’t know how I managed!

I have good memories and nostalgia when it comes to Hammarby, because it was my first club with a great fanbase. The organisation at the club was amazing, I played a lot of games, and they loved me there. I just felt at home there. One day, I want to go back there, to feel that warm welcome again. People still beg me on Instagram to go back, it’s amazing to feel that love! I don’t know what the future holds, but my wish is to go there again one day. But what a journey that season was for me, in 2018! I only played there for 10 months, but it was amazing.

What are your goals for next season?

I have a contract with Clermont, so my goals involve Clermont. My goal is to keep improving. We’re fighting for a top ten finish this season, next season I want to go higher. Whether that’s here or elsewhere, you never know. I want to win titles and aim for the best as a player. I’m with Clermont right now and I wish the best for the club, we have to dream together. We have to stick together like a family. My personal goal is to win titles, I know it’s aiming high, but we have to dream!

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

In an interview with L’Équipe earlier this season, Gomes said that he could imagine himself one day returning to Manchester United, and described the club as “home.” The Englishman spoke to Get French Football News’ Luke Entwistle in the wake of Les Dogues’ 0-0 draw against AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II on Sunday, discussing his season at Lille, his new, deeper position, and his future. 

How do you evaluate this draw against Monaco?

“It was a difficult game; they defended well, defended low. I think the pitch conditions didn’t help us either as the grass wasn’t watered. It’s very hot and humid here and the grass was long so we had to adapt to that and play a bit differently. It is what it is and we just have to continue fighting for the points”

Are you surprised that Monaco reverted to a back-three for this fixture given that they haven’t done so in many months?

“Yes and no. We haven’t changed the way we’ve played all season and we’re very confident in what the manager wants us to do, we’re confident in ourselves and what we need to do. We went out to do what we’ve been trying to do all season and implement that. If the other teams change the way they play, then I think that’s a credit to us. It’s football; we’re just going to try and keep going to reach our goals.” 

With the chances wasted today, does it feel like a missed opportunity to close the gap to the Europa League spot?

“It’s been a thing this season not being as clinical as we should be. We’ve lacked efficiency. It’s our first year with the manager, there are fresh faces and it’s a new team so we know there is an element of being patient with the process. But in that, there are lots of games that we could have killed off. That’s in the past now, looking forward we need to keep doing what we’re doing.”

On a personal level, how have you found adapting to a slightly deeper role in Lille’s midfield this season?

“I think it’s been a positive season for me. Being involved in all of the games I think is something I challenged myself to do at the start of the season – getting into the team and staying in the team. I’m really happy about that and whatever position I’m chosen to play in, I’ll play and give my best. It happens to be a bit deeper, which I don’t mind. It suits my style of play a lot and I’ve been very happy this season.”

The race for Europe is getting tighter, with Rennes now just one point behind. Is your future at Les Dogues contingent upon a European qualification at the end of the season?

“For me, the goal is to finish in Europe, preferably Europa League for us. I feel how we’ve played this season is deserving of it. That’s dependent on us and how we finish the season. I think for the sacrifice, and the work we’ve put in, that’s the only position that we’re looking to finish in at the moment. My head is fully here in Lille and it will be until the end of the season. Anything else is out of my control and I’m focused on being here and the present.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

“I think this is quite a unique synergy and quite a unique project. I think nowadays we can hear and see a lot of new multi-club groups, but I think we’re one of the few that can say that we have a clear synergy and strategy from Cercle Brugge to AS Monaco, and vice versa,” Cercle Brugge Sporting Director Carlos Aviña tells Get French Football News’ Luke Entwistle. 

Those “synergies” have allowed the exchange of knowledge and expertise, but also of players between the two clubs. It’s not a one-way street. Whilst many players make the move from Monaco to Cercle, either on loan or permanently, players such as Thomas Didillon have made the opposite move, as the club looks to optimise its assets to extract elite performance at both clubs. 

Players such as Boris Popović, who joined Cercle from Monaco on a permanent deal back in the summer of 2021, have become key figures for a Cercle team that is on the rise. The goal that earned Cercle promotion back to the top flight was incidentally scored by a Monaco loanee at the time, Irvin Cardona, and many years later, after having consolidated their first division status, the youngest team in the league are now pushing towards Europe. 

Aviña spoke to Get French Football News about their “unique” multi-club model, and how the “synergies” have been a motor for Cercle’s success. 

A lot is said about the synergies at the club, but how does this manifest itself in the day-to-day? 

I think this is quite a unique synergy and quite a unique project. I think nowadays we can hear and see a lot of new multi-club groups, but I think we’re one of the few that can say that we have a clear synergy and strategy from Cercle Brugge to AS Monaco, and vice versa. It goes both ways. It’s about exchanging information, it’s about supporting each other and in the end it’s about working on the same wavelength. There is a strong strategy that goes both ways, which is about developing talent, working with young players, a clear philosophy and playing style as well and I think the way we coach, the way we develop talent, the way we analyse our rivals, the way that we work with our performance and medical department, is the same at both clubs. The aim of the project is to work as one team, and that’s what we’ve been doing for a while now. That’s a big part of the recent successes of the team. 

Has there been an intensification of the synergies between the clubs? 

Yes, I think it has increased in the last three years. I think one of the main goals that Paul (Mitchell) and I had when we arrived three years ago was to intensify and increase the collaboration between both clubs and now I think we can say anyone from Cercle or from Monaco can reach out to their counterparts at the other club and exchange information and ask for support in decision making. That’s very valuable. Also, there is a strong collaboration in terms of developing players. It goes both ways. From Cercle Brugge we have Thomas Didillon, then Jesper (Daland) going to train at the Monaco training camp. Here we have Radoslaw Majecki and Boris Popović, two strong players here at Cercle Brugge right now, and playing basically every minute. 

How does recruitment work at Cercle? Are Monaco considered in the process? 

We always try to see the bigger picture and it’s part of a holistic process. We have quite an extensive scouting network and this network can only be possible when it is part of a family like AS Monaco. We have scouts basically everywhere in the world, and they report to AS Monaco and to Cercle Brugge. They’re always feeding us with potential options, and we can do the work internally to see if they really fit. It is always with a view that they potentially, or at least that they have the potential and talent to one day be playing for Monaco, or at least in the big five (divisions). That’s how we recruit. We also use a lot of data, but we’re not data-driven or data-led; we’re data-informed. It is part of the process. That’s how we have found players like Ayase Ueda, for example. 

How important and frequent are the discussions with Paul Mitchell and other members of the backroom staff at Monaco? 

I call Paul every single day, several times. There are no days off in this industry! Our communication is as strong as if we were in the office next door. With James (Bunce), it is more punctual on different topics, but it’s super open and super collaborative. Open communication is one of the reasons for success. 

Do you sense that there is a hierarchical relationship between the clubs? 

There is a clear ambition. Anyone who is recruited to come to Cercle, be it a player or a member of staff, always has the ambition to go to Monaco one day, having come in and succeeded at Cercle. It is an aspirational relationship. Monaco is one of the biggest landmarks in European football. That’s the way we’re seeing it from Cercle’s perspective: we have the support of such a big club, let’s use it to our advantage, let’s create competitive advantages that can lead us to win games on the pitch. From an individual perspective, everyone is always pushing to give their best, and why not? One day you’ll [maybe] be part of Monaco. There are lots of players, like Daland who trained at Monaco’s winter camp, and that can really help nurture the talent in our team. 

You mention ambition to make the step from Cercle to Monaco. Do you also have that ambition with Paul’s impending departure? 

Paul has been a massive, massive, massive contributor to the success at Cercle Brugge. I don’t think people realise how important his role has been in terms of supporting the club. I think one of the main things he has made sure of is that there is always continuity and a strong project that stands regardless of the personnel, be that players, coaches, or management. We’re in such a strong position from a group perspective that there will always be continuity. From my personal perspective, honestly, I was saying to the players on Sunday, ‘Today guys is when we can go from a good season to a great season.’ And what I was telling them this morning was, ‘Now is the moment to go from a great season to a historic season.’ To be honest, there is nothing else on my mind apart from the match against Standard Liège. We want to get six from six and get as high as we can go. That’s where we are at the moment. 

Would a European qualification change the relationship between Cercle and Monaco?

I don’t think it will change the dynamic. It’s certainly an opportunity to showcase our talent on a bigger platform. It’s still too premature to contemplate how this will look. The aim needs to be to continue with our good performances and earn good results game-to-game, and then we will see how the details of the collaboration will look. We see this as an opportunity and big motivation. We’re going for it. When you look at the players and the results and performances this season, it’s super balanced. Anything can happen. There is only a difference of three points and it’s going to be exciting.

I’m sure you saw Aleksander Ceferin’s comments about same-ownership clubs being able to compete in European competitions. I assume that news was positively received at the club? 

For sure, this isn’t anything new, and we need to take into account that Cercle Brugge is a team that has been acquired by AS Monaco in 2017, so it’s been six years. We remember where we came from. We were a club that was struggling in the second division, that then got promoted and then a couple of transitional years that were more about survival. In recent years, the new strategy has been trying to revamp the team, and that’s going really well. I think we need to go step-by-step. I’ve heard UEFA’s comments, and this is something we have always been aware of from a management perspective in the whole group regarding these restrictions. We’ll find an adequate solution when this occurs. 

L’Équipe have described Cercle as an “antechamber” for AS Monaco. Do you agree with this categorisation, and could this change in the future? 

I think it depends. We have had players like Harrison (Marcelin), Radoslaw (Majecki), and (Strahinja) Pavlović in the past that came here and made a massive impact at Cercle Brugge and went back to Monaco, or will go back to Monaco. It depends on the project that we have with these players. Every single player in the organisation has their own individual development plan. Some of their plans will be to go from the Monaco second team, come to Cercle and return to Monaco, or be sold to a big five club. Current examples are players like Boris Popović or Edgaras Utkus, who are still with us and are a big part of our team. Popović is a main component of the team. He’s very important. In the end, we will see if he’s probably one that is ready to go back to Monaco or make the next step to another league. He is definitely already enjoying some success and garnering interest from other teams.

That’s one project, and the other is players like Harrison, like Radoslaw, that will come to Cercle for strategic reasons to get playing time, to develop and go back to Monaco. Then the final one is external recruitment, where players will come to Cercle Brugge with the aspiration of going to Monaco, like Jesper Daland, like Ayase Ueda. If they come here and perform well, they will always have the chance to go there. I would say there are three different strategies that we can use, and depending on the moment in time, we will see exactly which one we will use. 

Are Daland and Ueda now maybe ready to make the step across to Monaco? 

I think it’s good that we can be speaking about this because it means that their time at Cercle has been successful. If they’re ready, or not, that’s something that we need to define in the next couple of weeks. Definitely, they’re making a big, big statement with the way that they’re playing in the league. Jesper is proving to be one of the best centre-backs in the league, Ayase being two goals off the top-scorer in his first season in European football is amazing. These kinds of talents are going to be, or are already, a success story for us. They’re definitely ready to make the next step and the market, and AS Monaco’s necessities are going to define if they go there or somewhere else. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

However, amidst rumours of Fofana’s departure this summer, Matazo will want to put his name in the hat to be his successor. He has started three of the last six Ligue 1 games and looks set to be given further chances between now and the end of the season. Get French Football News’ Luke Entwistle, sat down with Matazo, who spoke about his continued commitment to the Monégasque project, his season so far, and his midfield influences.

Have you felt a turning point in your career with three starts in your last six Ligue 1 matches? 

Not necessarily a turning point, but it’s a fact that since the return from the World Cup, I’ve had a bit more gametime. I’m playing quite regularly and I’m putting in a string of pretty good performances. Since the World Cup, I’m in the best phase of the season. A turning point in my career? I’m not sure. I’m still young, and there are lots of matches still to go to know whether there has really been a turning point in my career, or not. 

Your performance against Olympique de Marseille in January certainly felt like a turning point… 

In the season, I needed a reference match. I think I can lean on that match against Marseille in my matches against all future opponents. For sure, the match against Marseille gave me a boost. 

Was there a bit of disappointment with your lack of gametime in the first part of the season? How did you manage that? 

For sure. I’m a competitor and I always want to help the team. When you don’t have the gametime to do that, it’s a bit disappointing. But I’m well aware that I’m still young and I’m in a competitive team with two or three very good players in my position. So I need to grin and bear it, continue to work hard and be ready when the coach calls on me. 

What was your first reaction when Mohamed Camara arrived, given that he would rival you for a place in the midfield? 

I had a good impression of him, and I’d seen him play in the Champions League and at a team like Monaco, you need competitive players in every position. That’s how it is with all of the other positions, and that’s how it is with Camara, who came to strengthen the team, which he has done. So I see it as a positive. It brings competition, and for me, as a young player, seeing such a player in my position only inspires me to take things from his game and reproduce that on the pitch. That allows us to challenge each other to give the best of ourselves every time we’re on the pitch. 

You’ve already played alongside Camara, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Youssouf Fofana – these are good influences. Could that make you a more versatile player going forward?

Since playing with the pros, I’ve been playing with Aurélien, Youssouf, Mohamed, and with Fabregas as well. There are different characteristics in all these players and for sure, watching them every day in training and at the matches, I can only learn. Those will be things that I’ll take with me going forward. 

Was it inspiring to see Aurélien move to Real Madrid? 

Seeing a defensive midfielder have such a rapid rise can only be inspiring for me. I’m also inspired by the fact that I played alongside him. It shows anything is possible, but it only happens through hard work. Aurélien is a hard worker and what happened to him was the outcome of all of that work. 

Is it your time to shine given the potential of Youssouf Fofana’s departure in the summer? 

Yeah, maybe. I don’t know what Fofana’s future holds. As a Monaco player, I want him to stay as that would be good for the team. There are lots of games remaining in the second half of this season, so it’s up to me to show certain things. In any case, I am ready to show these things and we’ll see what the future holds. 

Do you think it is harder for a defensive midfielder to break through given there is no room for mistakes? 

It is different to break through [as a midfielder rather than an attacker]. It’s really about concentration and experience and that’s something that is learnt. To be consistent, we’re speaking about maturity to be able to recognise certain situations. It’s true that it’s different, and it’s something that is learnt. There are lots of midfielders with lots of experience that start from the bench, but when they come on, they make an impact and that is something that I have to be able to do as well. It is rare to have as much experience as I have as a defensive midfielder at my age. I am lucky to have such baggage at a club like AS Monaco so I make the most of it. 

Where do you think you need to improve? 

I’m a defensive midfielder so ball recovery is my maximum priority. I have technical baggage that allows me to go forward so what I’m trying to do more in matches is to go forward and be more visible on the pitch. 

Out of the players that you’ve played with, which player would you say you’re closest to stylistically? 

That’s for other people to say. I have my own style. It’s all about personal opinion because I was told I had a style similar to Aurélien, others say Youssouf and some people reference other players as well. Youssouf and I have some similar characteristics. We’re both strong in terms of ball recovery, but we’re not good at just that. We have a technical ability which also makes us capable of bringing things offensively, taking the ball, moving up the field, providing assists and shooting. It is a skill we have and that, in particular, I need to use more. 

Photo by Luke Entwistle

Have you felt your role at the club, despite the fact you’re still young? 

Yes. In my debut season, I had quite a bit of playing time and it has since increased. I’m a young player with quite a lot of baggage already. It is something that I feel within the group and something that I embrace.

What is it like having, in Philippe Clement, a compatriot as your manager at club level? What is your relationship with him like?

It’s positive because the dialogue is much easier. We understand each other very quickly. We come from the same environment and he has similar ways of thinking to me, so that helps. 

And at international level, you have become an experienced player for the Belgium U21s. Are you looking to make that step up to the senior team now? 

I feel good in that environment. Each time that I go on duty with the U21s, I take on a bit more responsibility, and I feel that from the coach as well. We have a good generation, a good group that gels well, and I love going there. I feel good there and I’m happy to be there. 

I think that these things come naturally. If you’re doing well with your club, if you put in good performances, you’ll get the call. When the moment comes, I will be ready because I know that I will have done the work to get there, with the U21s and also with Monaco. Domenico Tedesco has just arrived, and I know he has an eye on me. I got a provisional call-up, so that shows I’m there or thereabouts. It’s up to me to ensure that I give the best of myself so that he can look at me even more. 

Do you now feel that you are in the best condition to give the best of yourself? 

As always. I work hard throughout the season, and I’m always at the disposal of the team. As soon as the coach calls on me, he knows I’ll be at 100% to help the team. 

And like last season, you are hunting after that second place… 

We have nine finals left, nine matches to win. It’s as simple as that and we’ll review it at the end of the season. I think that [the experience of chasing the European places last season] helps. But Lens are also having an incredible season. They’re more consistent this season, and that can’t be forgotten, so I think they are also better armed to finish the season well. We’re the hunters so it’s up to us to chase the teams in front of us. 

Moving forward, do you still have confidence in the Monaco project being the right one for you? 

Of course, if I didn’t I wouldn’t still be here. If I didn’t have confidence in the club, I wouldn’t be here. Last year, I extended my contract until 2026 so I trust in the project, and I’m completely invested in it. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The Italian goalkeeper sat down with Get French Football News this week to discuss Les Merlus‘ potential push for a European spot and his own purple patch of form. The veteran also looks back on his time at Arsenal, establishing himself at Sunderland, and a bittersweet two-year spell at Monaco.

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You’ve kept four clean sheets in the last month and a half, having come into the starting eleven midway through the season – would you say you’re going from strength to strength with each passing game?

Every opponent is different, but obviously for me and the defenders it’s great to be getting clean sheets. We had some other good performances in other games, but we would concede a goal at the end. As a goalkeeper, it’s always good not to concede.

Your performance against Lyon was particularly impressive.

Yes, we had a good game, a good point to get against a difficult team. They have a lot of good players, and it was nice to be able to do my part to help the team. That result gave us a lot of confidence going into last weekend, where we got the three points at home [2-0 win over Troyes].

Lorient have been one of this season’s success stories in Ligue 1, could you talk us through what’s gone on from the inside to make this year so successful?

It’s a project that started at the beginning of the season – I arrived a bit later, in September, but anyone who came into the club would know that we wanted to fight a bit higher this year. We’ve already been making history and setting club records in terms of points, and we’ve already secured survival for next season. But in our heads, we’re working hard every week to keep fighting and climbing the table. It’s not easy of course, because this year there are a lot of good teams with varying budgets. The coach told us before we played Lyon that they had a budget of €250m, and we started with a budget of €50m! At the end of the day, we’ve managed to come out with some big results against the top clubs. We’re aiming for something special this season.

Maybe even a spot in Europe? You’re four points away from Rennes in 5th right now.

It’s always good to have a dream in mind! It’s nice to aim for something, it’s what I’ve been doing my entire career. On my first day when I arrived, I said that we could dream of finishing in the top five, six or seven. Europe would be a dream, but there are a lot of good teams around us. The next few games will tell us where we really are, because we’ll be playing a lot of good clubs around us, so it will be difficult.

You have an especially tough run in April – Lille, PSG, Marseille and Monaco – how do you feel about this run of big games?

As a player you want the best challenge, and that means playing against the big teams – if you can do something special in those matches, then even better.

You’ll be coming up against Ligue 1’s other Italian goalkeeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma during that run – what do you make of the criticism he sometimes gets for his mistakes?

It’s difficult. I’ve been in the big clubs and the smaller teams, and as goalkeepers we are always under scrutiny. That’s our role – we know that every little mistake we make will count, it could cost a goal or some points. But it’s normal, that’s our job, we have to deal with it and play through that to achieve the best. He’s the national team goalkeeper and plays for Paris Saint-Germain, so of course everyone will demand the very best from him in every game.

How would you describe Régis Le Bris’ influence on the team?

He gave us an identity from day one, both on and off the pitch – in the way we wanted to play, in the way we want to carry ourselves. And when you have an identity, you can work for something every single day and give your all when you’re facing your opponents. Despite the fact it’s not been an easy season – at the end of the day, we lost our best assister and our best goalscorer in January [Dango Ouattara, Terem Moffi]. It’s never easy for new players to come in and deliver and understand this identity straight away – the way we need them to both attack and defend – but now we have a strong team.

And it’s not been easy for the team as a whole since we had a lot of big injuries. We had things that went against us, but we’re still there, we’re not far from fifth. 

What factored into your decision to join Lorient?

The project, and the way it was explained to me. I had a few options in England, France and in Italy. I came to the end of my contract at Monaco and had the chance to come to a Ligue 1 club that wanted to do well, and that’s why I came.

Do you feel as though you’ll have a point to prove when you go down to Monaco next month, to face your former team?

No. I’ve already proven them wrong. It’ll be just like any other game – obviously it will be nice because I’ll be facing some old friends and seeing my old fans again. In the end, I feel like I’ve already proven that I’m a capable Ligue 1 goalkeeper.

Talk us through those two years at Monaco – how was the fight for a Champions League spot, alongside all of these other experienced players?

We had a strong team. There was a lot of experience and also young players. We wanted to achieve more, in the end we finished 3rd twice in a row. The final day [when Monaco missed out on a spot in the Champions League group stage] was painful, we also lost in the French Cup final. And last year in the league, we almost qualified, but one minute of football changes everything – Lens equalised in the last minute and we finished third once again. It shows how all your hard work can be undone so quickly.

How was the move in general? Going from Monaco to Brittany is quite the change.

Interesting! It’s definitely different. You know, I’ve lived in a lot of places around the world for the last 19 years so it’s not been an issue settling in. Brittany has some nice things too, and it’s always good to discover new places wherever you go.

The most daunting move must have been going to Arsenal at a young age. What was that like?

It was a dream come true at the time. It was special, because it was a difficult time in my life, when I had lost my father, and the month after that I was training with the Invincibles. At the end of the day, I was a kid, and I found myself training with guys like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès!

In terms of my life outside of football, I had gone from Italy to London, to a new culture, I had to learn English quickly and a take on a lot of new things. It was a very special moment in my life.

Could you talk about Arsène Wenger’s impact at that time and beyond?

First of all, he gave me a professional career. He believed in me when I was a 16-year-old goalkeeper. He was very intelligent and open – not just in giving me a contract, but also beyond. At the time, I needed my mother, because it was just me and her when my father died. They gave me an apartment to stay with my mother straight away, usually when you’re a young player, you go to another family, you can’t have your own place straight away.

He also gave me my debuts in the Premier League and in the Champions League – I was always proud to play for Arsenal, to be at such an amazing club. Of course, I would have liked more! He [Wenger] said it himself, I was close to getting more chances, maybe to become number one – but that’s the way football goes, there can only be one starting goalkeeper. At the time, we were three young goalkeepers fighting for the one spot, and it was never easy. But I grew up, I gained some experience and played some big games for Arsenal.

Do you still keep in touch?

I met him last year when I was at Monaco, and we exchanged text messages when I came to Lorient. It’s always been good to meet him throughout the years.

You were playing at a club with so many French players and under a French manager – in a way, it was destiny that you’d end up in Ligue 1!

Yes, it’s strange! But with all the little phrases and things that I picked up over the years, it was like being at a French club. I have a lot of good friends from then who are French, and that’s serving me well now, I can speak the language a bit.

What do you make of Arsenal’s season this year, you must be quite happy to see how they’re doing?

Yes, very happy. It’s always a long fight to achieve something like winning the Premier League. When I was there, we had a few years where we’d get to March and we’d have a difficult period. This season, there aren’t that many games to go now so they’ve proven that they’re going for the title. But let’s not speak too soon! Unfortunately everything can change very quickly in the Premier League. But hopefully they’ll keep fighting and see it out, to bring the Premier League title back to Arsenal.

You then became more of a Premier League regular at Sunderland, what was it like becoming a full-time number one?

In my last season at Arsenal I played 14 games, and that was the time when I was really close to getting the starting spot, I was competing with [Wojciech] Szczęsny who was struggling with injuries – and when I played, I did really well. Arsène then decided to go back to Szczęsny, he told me I’d done a great job, and that was that. I thought that was my moment, after fighting for many years – a bit like [Emiliano] Martínez – Emi waited and waited for 10 years to get his chance. Once I knew I couldn’t be number one at Arsenal, I wanted to prove that I could do so in the Premier League so I decided to join Sunderland.

It was an amazing story at Sunderland – in my first year, I was player of the season straight away. We reached the club’s first cup final in 28 years [League Cup]. We beat Manchester United at Old Trafford – and saving the penalty there was special, because it was in the same goal that Dida had won a penalty shoot-out for Milan, the club I supported, in the 2003 Champions League final against Juventus. 

A lot of things happened over the next 4-5 years, a lot of relegation battles – staying in the Premier League, for us, was like winning the league! There were a lot of ups and downs, but at the same time we performed a lot of miracles, some great escapes that I’ll never forget. There were some special matches along the way, beating big clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City – it was really nice.

You’ve played all across Europe and also had a stint in the United States, with Minnesota United – how do you look back on this career that’s taken you to so many different places, and allowed you to experience different cultures that you maybe wouldn’t have if you’d stayed in Italy?

It was meant to be. I left at a very early age, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I went out to the best league in the world, I left my home and I didn’t know that I was going to be away for 19 years. Seeing all these countries and cultures, it’s been an amazing journey, I will never regret any of it. We had a special time in the USA, then I went to Denmark, and then two years in Monaco, where my child was born – so it’s a special place for me and my wife, who’s been with me the whole time.

Everywhere I’ve been has been a second home to me – it’s great to have an open mind and get to know all of these nationalities and cultures. It’s been amazing.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin 

Firstly, our readers will be wondering more about you as a player and what made OL so interested, how would you describe yourself as a player?

I predominantly feature on the left, a left-sided winger. I like to drift in, play in the spaces of a ten and make things happen. I feel comfortable across the front three. However, I favour the left flank. My strongest element is in one on one situations, and my ability to beat players has seen me described as a tricky winger in the past. 

What’s your story to date? Where have you played and developed to bring you where you are today, being asked to train with OL?

I started off as a schoolboy playing for St. Joseph’s in Dublin, a big schoolboys’ club in Ireland. St. Joseph’s holds a link with Bray Wanderers and that saw me start my League of Ireland experience at the U15s level. From there, I spent two seasons with Bray before I made the switch to Bohemians.

Bohemians was my first taste of making the step up towards the senior level and it was a great experience to spend time with the first team, despite it being difficult at first for a 16-year-old. I feel this is the right thing for a younger player, rather than being thrown straight in at the age of 18. I was massively grateful for that. 

A.F.C University College of Dublin then came in for me which was a great opportunity for me as I was in need of a fresh start. I loved my 6 months there and was majorly involved with the first team. Towards summertime, I was approached by St. Patrick’s Athletic, my current club, who are a big club in Ireland – and it was a no-brainer, really, after initial conversations. We won the U19s league last season and I have been involved with the first team which has been great. That’s when OL expressed their interest. 

When did you first hear of Lyon’s interest and how did the club approach you to invite you for trials at the Groupama Training Centre? 

First contact was established with my agent, who informed me of the interest. He was contacted by Lyon’s Academy Director, Jean-François Vulliez. When I first heard about it I was buzzing to have interest from such a big club, but I had to put it to the back of my mind as there was nothing concrete. A few months later, he called my agent and said, we’d like you to come over and train with us on a trial basis. That was a huge moment, when he told me there was concrete interest. 

It was a dream come true for me to receive interest from such a big club. When I knew it was happening, I had to ramp up everything – my individual training and fitness. The offer came at a complicated time as the season was over. However, I managed two weeks of training  with the first team at St. Pat’s before going over to Lyon and training for a week with the reserves.

When you first arrived at Lyon and got onto the training pitch, how did it feel to be training with one of the world’s best academies and stepping in the footsteps of the likes of Benzema and Lacazette?

It was a dream come true really, I had to pinch myself when walking in. Getting up in the morning, going for breakfast before training and seeing players that you grew up watching on TV just sitting there – like Lacazette, as well as World Cup winners, Tagliafico and Boateng, was crazy. The lads there are obviously used to it, but for me to be casually sitting there and for them to be walking by was crazy.  

Did you have any interactions with any of the first-team players? 

Yeah, we all ate in the same area. The women’s team, the reserves, which I was with, and the men’s first team. Also, on one of the days we played a training game, 11 v 11, against the first team so we all ate at the same time and on the way out I bumped into a few of the players. Lacazette, Aouar and Boateng, just to name a few. The language barrier was obviously an issue, but it was still great to meet them. 

How did you find your overall experience training in an environment which has been renowned for producing consistent talent and with some of the best academy coaches in Europe? 

It was a great experience. It’s a different culture, compared to Ireland. It was great to see the way they do it in France, the training methods are different and it’s all in the details. It seems simple when you’re training, but there is so much that goes into it. The coaches are constantly watching and pointing things out that you wouldn’t even think of. It was a great opportunity to learn and I learnt so much in just one week, it was unbelievable. 

What was the biggest difference between training with OL and the training you experienced during your development in the Irish game? 

I believe football is a simple game and I don’t think it should be too different, but the main difference was the quality of the players. I couldn’t believe stepping out on the pitch with them. Everything was self-explanatory and nailed down. All the basics are done perfectly. The individuals are on another level. Aouar, for example – some of the things he did during the game, in just 45 minutes, were unbelievable. The level of quality I can hopefully add to my own game and the experience is something that will stay with me throughout my whole career.

How did you find being coached by OL’s reserve coach Gueida Fofana, someone responsible for many top talents progressing to the first team?

Gueïda was a very strong character and you could see he knew exactly what it took to play at the top level. He knew exactly the way a first-team dressing room and training session worked. He’s not too long out of the professional game and he brings that with him. He’s very intense in his coaching style. I think you need that though as there’s no use in being soft with the U23s as he has to prepare players for the first-team environment. It wasn’t easy when you didn’t do something the way he wanted, but you need that to learn. 

The simplicity of his training was a big difference from what I’ve experienced in the past. The repetition of things, you learnt growing up. There was nothing complicated in the training sessions and the basics were nailed down every training session. At home, some of the sessions can be complicated and when putting that into a game scenario it can be difficult. However, when the passing is crisp and thought out as it was in Lyon, it’s a well-oiled machine. 

Was there anyone who particularly impressed you during your time training with OL’s reserves who we should look out for in the future?

Two of the lads I trained with were on the bench for OL’s game against Ajaccio. El Arouch, he was with us during the week and then spent a day with the first team. He’s an exceptional player. Not the biggest, not the fastest but technically he was unbelievable, you couldn’t take the ball off him. The other player was a winger, Djibrail Dib. Again, he’s not the biggest, not the tallest but technically he’s so skilful and stood out a lot as in the game we played against the first team, he played with them and didn’t look out of place.

How vital was the experience for your development and is there anything from your time at OL that you want to integrate into your own game?

The main thing in football for me is confidence, and the confidence of knowing I was able to go over to Lyon and hold my own is great. I thought I did well and the feedback was positive, that is something that I will take with me into the new season, wherever I end up. 

Lyon is a huge club, with a great academy and great players, and being around that environment full-time was great, there is lots to take from that. Long term, it’s an environment I can see myself thriving in. The language barrier is of course an issue but one that can be addressed. I think the experience has taught me that I can improve my off-the-ball work and learn where to be and who to follow. With the coaching at Lyon, that would be achievable. 

Any news on a return to OL? 

No news as of yet, but the feedback was positive and the club said they would be in touch with my agent. A week is a short amount of time, I think the opportunity to showcase myself as a player and person in a full game would be valuable. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

AS Monaco is renowned for producing World Class academy products. To what do you attribute that success?

It all starts with good recruitment. You can’t have success without good players. That’s the work of our team of recruiters. In France, it is a global system of trying to get players from the age of 10, 13, and 14 to sign agreements. That gives you three years to work with them: from the age of 15 until the age of 18. We have a very good team of coaches from U17 level. It’s part of the DNA of Monaco to have the policy to do everything that is necessary to produce talent, that’s the factory part of it, but it starts with recruitment. 

How do you turn that potential into a first-team player?

I come back to what we instilled this season: the Groupe Elite, which was created to optimise our work. At that moment it is a difficult time from 18-21, known in France as the post-formation (after training). What we do well is creating the connection. There are no doors closed to the first team. It is the installation of a political philosophy. I sit down with the management biweekly and we discuss many topics, including the talent. 

The coach wants players who can feel matches and training at their level. 8 young players travelled to face Empoli and Fiorentina. They all played. We give them playing time. That’s how Ben Seghir at the beginning of November convinced the coach to be part of the first team. He could show himself. He saw him on video and said that this guy is really interesting. He then convinced Philippe to let him break into the starting 11. 

If you want to become a player for Monaco, you need to be excellent, physical, technical, tactical, and mentally strong. If you’re good in four you might have an excellent career. I think Eliesse has the potential still to grow and to be excellent in these four aspects that are demanded of football. 

Does the fact that youth players can really see a chance to break through into the first team help, not only mentally, but also tactically?

We give them the opportunity to discover. It is always a factor to see what the talent does with this information. We can’t make an obligation to any player to do this or that. We bring them into a position where they might learn. I think the last step of development is everything being high speed, and then you can make the evaluation of whether our young players are ready to make the step up. It takes time. It’s about seeing them learning, and you can then make a correct assessment. 

Does the transparency at the club, and the interconnectedness between the academy side and the first team set-up accelerate development? 

It is in our DNA to give young players a chance to play, French players in particular. In this club, it is very easy. Our directors and management try to watch the games live, so they see the evolution. The players are so well known because there are no barriers, no closed doors. You watch the players train, you watch them play, you watch the feedback and you see an evolution. The feedback is daily. Everyone at Monaco knows that young players are part of our future, and they always will be. It is so natural here. The process is very fluid, you don’t feel it because it is so natural. 

There is constant feedback, which is very important. I’m very happy with our staff. Damien Perrinelle, who is the coach of the Elite Groupe was the assistant coach of the first team for three years, so he knows the demands. He was a former professional player, who played in a different culture as well. 

Was it easy to convince you to join Monaco?

I feel that it is a unique environment here. I was convinced that here it was possible to work with young players and they can become successful in the first team. I believe in a few years, we will be playing four or five academy players in the Monaco first team. 

What is Ben Seghir’s ceiling?

I wish I could say he will become the best player in the world because it’s in our interest. How good he will be is up to him to decide. He has every element. Now is the critical moment to manage himself, to stay humble, which he is, and to work on himself. Scoring twice on your Ligue 1 debut is an achievement, but doing that two times is a challenge. Being important consistently is a challenge. We will see how he reacts, but we are hopeful. We can’t put too much pressure on him at this moment, but he is an exciting player.

Soungoutou Magassa is the latest academy product to break into the first team. He has a very similar profile to Aurélien Tchouaméni. Do you think he could eventually replace the Real Madrid midfielder?

First of all, what is very clear is that every team at the club has their principles of play. We want to see something specific in the context of France, and our club wants to play in a certain way.  We speak in our weekly meetings with the academy coaches. It is about showing images of the first team and trying to emulate that style of play. Part of that process is also that we have profiles to play this system, to have these principles. What we do for sure is to give the players an opportunity to play. It is up to them to convince the coach every day that the coach can win games with them, and we put everything in place to make it possible.

How important has the club’s involvement in the Premier League International Cup been to the development of Monaco’s academy players?

It is important to integrate into other contexts, like playing against Premier League academies. If you play against Manchester United at Old Trafford in front of 10,000 people, it’s a challenge, a different type of pressure. It wasn’t something we could create last year. The experience is a thrill that motivates players even more and it is this aspect where I see a huge difference compared to last year. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle