Ligue 1 Uber Eats 12 January 2024, 14:46

Kassoum Ouattara: “Be there when the coach needs me”

A starter for the first time with the Rouge et Blanc last Sunday in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France in Lens (2-2, 6-5 on penalties), the young Monegasque left wingback spoke to the media on the eve of a visit by Reims to the Stade Louis-II (5 p.m.).

He celebrated his first start and his first assist with AS Monaco at the Stade Bollaert! In the eleven in the big match of the Coupe de France Round of 64 again RC Lens, Kassoum Ouattara rewarded the confidence put in him by coach Adi Hütter and was decisive. Before returning to the Stade Louis-II for the 18th round of Ligue 1 against Reims, the French U-20 international left back gave his impressions at a press conference. 🎙️

His debut for Monaco

You work hard to play for a club like AS Monaco one day, so I wasn’t afraid to take the plunge when I arrived. Especially since my first months went very well, even if it’s a change from the North here (smile)! More seriously, I was welcomed very well by my teammates, who helped me a lot. I had to adapt to a new team, a new style of play, but everyone supported me well.

🗣🎙 La réaction de Kassoum Ouattara, passeur décisif sur le 2ème but monégasque, après la qualification pour les 16e de finale.

‣ #RCLASM | #CoupeDeFrance pic.twitter.com/9Tam3YFBbI

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 7, 2024

It's important in this period where there are quite a few absentees that I am there when the coach needs me. The first few weeks (since joining)? When you are on the bench, you always want to play (smiles). But the staff gave me time to adapt to this new context, and I knew I would have my chance one day.

Kassoum OuattaraAbout getting playing time

About the changes in joining AS Monaco

I changed everything in my routine a bit (smiles). It’s another level once again, and on a daily basis this involves a good diet, but also through the “invisible work” as they say: sleep. And then we also work a lot with video to progress. The level? I wasn’t surprised, even if there was obviously a period of adaptation. It took me a few weeks to get up to speed.

Playing time

It’s important in this period where there are quite a few absentees that I am there when the coach needs me. The first few weeks (since joining)? When you are on the bench, you always want to play (smiles).

When I was younger, I was more of a left winger, and from the under-15s, I started to play as a left back. This certainly explains why it’s natural for me to get forward. In any case, I really like this style of play, so I thrive a lot in this philosophy.

Kassoum OuattaraOn his profile as a player

But the staff gave me time to adapt to this new context, and I knew I would have my chance one day. Now I have to be consistent, string together matches and good performances. And then we will also have to hang on when the competition returns.

L'#AsianCup2023 et la #CAN2023 débutent ce week-end 🔜🏆

🇯🇵 x 🇨🇮🇸🇳🇲🇱🇬🇭

Découvrez le programme de nos Rouge & Blanc 👇

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 10, 2024

On his qualities

We have a very offensive attacking style of play which fits well with my profile. In this position of wingback, I have to be quite forward-thinking, even if I must not forget my defensive duties. When I was younger, I was more of a left winger, and from the under-15s, I started to play as a left back. This certainly explains why it’s natural for me to get forward. In any case, I really like this style of play, so I thrive a lot in this philosophy.

His athletic level

To be honest, my physical qualities came quite late. I wasn’t above the rest when I was young, but through perseverance, I developed. There may also be a bit of genetics, I don’t know (smiles)!

Ismail? Even before he left for AFCON, I spoke a lot with Izo. He gives me a lot of advice every day during training, even after the sessions. He helps me a lot on a daily basis.

Kassoum OuattaraOn Ismail Jakobs

When I was little it was more challenging athletically, but once again I developed over the years. I like to make a lot of runs, and this is the case as a wingback or fullback. My former coaches were already pushing me to push myself and do a lot of high-intensity sprints.

The older players in his position

I would first like to have a quick word for Caio Henrique. He is a very important player for us, for the team, and I hope he returns to competition quickly. Our style of play is a little different, although we are both very strong offensively. Ismail? Even before he left for AFCON, I spoke a lot with Izo. He gives me a lot of advice every day during training, even after the sessions. He helps me a lot on a daily basis.

"FORÇA CAIO"

Avant #SDRASM, les joueurs de l'@AS_Monaco apportent leur soutien à Caio Henrique, victime d'une très grave blessure 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6giC14Yd31

— Free Ligue 1 (@FreeLigue1) October 7, 2023

In Lens I had a very good first half, but we still have to work to be even better and over time. Going forward, I know that I will make deep runs, as was the case on the goal.

Kassoum OuattaraOn his assist in Lens

About Reims

We will face a very good team from Stade de Reims this weekend, despite the many absentees they have due to the CAN. When you are with a big club, you have to have high goals. The ideal would be to return to Europe at the end of the season, why not even the Champions League. But we are focused above all on the match on Saturday.

His assist for Maghnes Akliouche

In Lens I had a very good first half, but we still have to work to be even better and over time. Going forward, I know that I will make deep runs, as was the case on the goal. The pass came rather naturally because these are movements that we work on in training.

7 𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳 2023 ‣ ⚽️ 1er but en pro avec l'AS Monaco 🆕
7 𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳 2024 ‣ ⚽️ Buteur contre Lens 🔝

𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙚 💎#MadeInLaDiagonale pic.twitter.com/NbKkIiMcu8

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 8, 2024