Kassoum Ouattara: “I want to thank the Club for its trust”
He completed his first training session with his new teammates this Thursday, barely 24 hours after arriving at the foot of the Rock. Having come to reinforce the Monegasque left side as a wingback, Kassoum Ouattara, 19 years old and a French U-20 international,delivered his first impressions to the media two days before the match against Brest at the Stade Louis-II (Sunday, 5:05 p.m.). He was accompanied by Club CEO Thiago Scuro. 🎙
His feelings about joining AS Monaco
First of all I would like to say THANK YOU to the Club for the trust, to Thiago and to the coach of course. At that time of the season, it’s true that it was quite unusual to change teams. But as a football player, you have to know how to adapt to progress quickly and be ready fairly quickly in the event of change.
Un mot pour notre nouvelle recrue ? 🤗#WelcomeKassoum pic.twitter.com/NBNOs2yPUQ
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 1, 2023
On Adi Hütter’s style of play
Of course the AS Monaco style of play is something I like, it’s a team that attacks a lot and likes to put on a show, so that speaks to me. It’s something for as well — I like to attack, it’s in my blood. So playing this offensive style obviously made me want to join the Club.
The goals he sets for himself
When one arrives at AS Monaco, one knows that he will have competition with a lot of experienced players, internationals. Initially, my goal will be to quickly integrate and gradually acquire as much playing time as possible.
His style of play
It’s true that I’m very comfortable as a left-sided wingback, because I already played in this position last season. This season with Amiens, we played more with four at the back, so I can also be comfortable in this configuration.
My qualities? I am rather comfortable in different aspects of the game, whether on the defensive or offensive level. I like to attack, but as this season as I also played in a four-man defence, I worked on the defensive side of things as well.
His physical qualities
The athletic part of my profile comes from the work carried out over several years, since my years training in Montrouge. Once I arrived in Amiens, I continued to develop this with the coaches, the physical trainers. With age, the body evolves and this makes it possible to repeat high-intensity efforts.
His first impressions
When you come to one of the best French clubs, you know that everything is going to be different. There are a lot of great players playing here. The squad is of very good quality, and when you get there, you have to adapt. I have expected this higher level, especially in terms of intensity and repetition of efforts.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗺 🆕🔝
Bienvenue à l'AS Monaco 😋#WelcomeKassoum pic.twitter.com/ho3iq1f3vv
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 2, 2023
About the France U-20s
I have alredy encountered Eliesse Ben Seghir, Edan Diop and Malamine Efekele with the national team. I know Mala’ a little more, because we both come from the Paris region. Knowing them through the French team obviously makes my integration into the group easier.
But even those I didn’t know before made my arrival at the Club easier. And I know that what allowed me to have a place in the French U-20 team was my performances with my club. Going there made me perform a little better, it’s true.
His role models for his position
Personally today I am arriving at one of the biggest French clubs, a historic club. My ambition is therefore to progress, to move forward with AS Monaco. Among my idols in my position, I have always liked the Brazilian Marcelo. I also have the ambition to reach the very high level, but for the moment I am focused on what I am doing.
A word on Caio Henrique
Like any Ligue 2 player, you watch Ligue 1 matches to draw inspiration from the best. Caio Henrique is one of the most experienced players in the French top flight, he is precisely one of the best players in his position, so obviously he is also a source of inspiration for me.
Outside of football
When I’m not on the pitch, I don’t do much (smiles). I simply love spending time with my family, my two brothers and my three sisters, as well as my cousins. They accompany me in my daily life. I’m a simple person, so I like simple things.
His favorite club?
To be honest, when I was younger I watched a lot of matches, but I never had a favorite club. My father on the other hand is a big Real Madrid fan, so we always used to watch La Liga. Then I liked watching AS Monaco in France, without knowing that I was going to have the chance to join this club one day.
