In the upcoming UEFA A League third round match between France and Israel at 2:45 a.m. Beijing time on Oct. 11, France player Nkunku attended the pre-match press conference and shared his expectations for his return to the French team and his thoughts on the match.
Asked if his style of play is close to Griezmann's, Nkunku said, "Griezmann has left a legacy in the French team, and he has made his mark on a generation of soccer. I don't feel like I'm here to replace him, I just want to contribute to the team. We have different characteristics and everyone has their own unique value."
On the question of whether he was worried about not being able to return to the French team, Nkunku confessed, "The coach knows me very well and I try to do my best even if I'm not a starter at the club. I went through very difficult phases before, including mental challenges, but these experiences also made me stronger. They taught me how to understand my body better and learn patience and tenacity."
Nkunku also revealed the meaning of his balloon blowing celebratory gesture, "It's a celebratory gesture I did for my son when I was in Leipzig, and he loved it so much that I continued to do it. It's a special emotional attachment for me."
Speaking on the question of who will captain the team in Mbappe's absence, Nkunku said, "At the moment we are not discussing that. The atmosphere in the team is good and I have not been called up to the team for a year. The previous captain was Mbappe and he is not there now, it depends on who the coach puts as captain on this international day."
Nkunku also recalled his experience of missing the 2022 World Cup due to injury, "The toughest period was missing the World Cup. I adjusted my fitness to my condition and my style of play is explosive, which brings a lot of confrontation. But the injury is behind me and my goal now is to stay fit and want to enjoy and have fun on the field."
On the issue of the heavy fixtures, Nkunku believes, "It is true that there is a lot of pressure on clubs, especially those players who have to play a lot of games. But for me it would be good to have a lot of matches instead, I am very eager to play. Of course, there are very many matches, almost one every three days, which requires us to be in better shape."
Speaking on whether he is looking forward to getting back to form, Nkunku said, "I am getting back to my form and the rhythm of the game will come back with more playing time. I am eager to show my best self in the game."
In addition, Nkunku would like to see more attention paid to the players' health: "Some players have expressed their opinions and this really needs to be discussed with the players. There are a lot of games, which is mentally draining and some are seriously injured. We need to ask the right questions and focus on the players' health."
Speaking about his preferred position, Nkunku said, "I like areas where I am closer to the goal and can create a threat. But a professional player must be able to adapt to different systems, depending on the choice of the coach. I will adapt to what the coach wants and follow instructions."
Finally, Nkunku praised Deschamps' team management: "The coach has always been close to the players, there is a lot of communication. I haven't been called up for a year, but yesterday I didn't feel any different. I integrated into the team like before. It's the coach's choice whether to start or not, all the players want to start and I won't keep a low profile because I'm eager to play and show what I can do."
