“What do you think of Mike Maignan’s performances since the start of this Euro?
This is a very, very solid Euro. This is the fruit of his work. Mike works a lot. We hope he continues like this.
The news at your club Lens has been hectic in recent weeks. With changes in the sports management, as well as on the bench. How are you experiencing this? Could this have an influence on your future there?
I have four years left on my contract, I am proud to be the captain of this team. These are things we knew. We knew there would be upheavals. As for my future, we will see, I am focused on this Euro, and we will see after.
What do you think of the rule that allows penalty takers or shooters to slow down their run or even stop it?
They don’t make it easy for us goalkeepers. The player can do what he wants, I understand that we want more goals, a show. But our job is very difficult, very limited. That’s just my opinion. We’re going to try to work on that. But of course I’d like this rule to change.
“(on Cristiano Ronaldo) We will have to be solid to be able to limit his influence. It will be fun to play against him.”
Paul Pogba visited you in the locker room on Monday after the qualification against Belgium (1-0). What did that bring to the group?
I knew him as a kid, we were at the center in Le Havre. It was nice to see each other again after so many years. I was saddened by his personal situation, he is a person who loves football a lot and who can no longer practice it, he is a very strong person. He is behind us for the competition.
What did you think of Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance against Slovenia?
We all know him, he only wants to score, he has nothing to prove. We will have to be solid to be able to limit his influence. It will be fun to play against him.
Given the ineffectiveness of the Blues since the start of the Euro, has the staff asked you to ease off (in defense in training)?
(laughs) No no, he’s not asking us to take our foot off the gas. We’re lucky to be among the players called up for this Euro. We’re having a lot of fun, everyone’s bringing their own touch. We’re trying to be as ready as possible to be able to help. We have to put our emotions aside.
Would you be interested in returning to OM this summer?
It’s not on the agenda, to be honest. I’ve seen a lot of things on social media, I’m not going to lie. Everyone knows the attachment I have to this club, which I knew when I was 18. We’ll see. I’m not worrying. We’ll see what Lens’ position is. I’m captain, I don’t think Lens wants to get rid of me that easily. I’m very, very proud to be the captain of Lens. If we have to stay at Lens, we’ll stay. But I’m not closing any doors for this summer, we’ll see what happens.”
