Liverpool star makes case for taking captaincy: 'You have to be someone everyone likes'
Liverpool have a number of stars currently on international duty and one Reds player in particular wants has already shared is ambitions of claiming the captaincy for his country
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorLiverpool star Ibrahima Konate believes he could be the ideal man to captain France - because everyone likes him!
The defender is currently on international duty with Les Bleus for the upcoming games against Israel and Belgium. The 2018 World Cup winners are currently without a captain in the absence of Kylian Mbappe, while his deputy, Antoine Griezmann, has retired from international football.
It will be interesting to see who Deschamps selects for the armband during the latest break. But Konate believes he would be an excellent candidate, alongside a few of his teammates. Speaking in a press conference, the Liverpool defender said: “Being a leader is something that is innate. You either have it or you don’t."
He added: “You have to be someone that everyone likes. A leader has to be there especially when things aren’t going well. It’s like the foundations of a house; he holds up the group so that everything can go well.
“Some players have the profile. I have two or three names: Mike (Maignan), myself, Jules (Koundé) and Aurél(ien Tchouaméni). Those are the only names that come to mind.”
Konate, already a 17-time French international, is in the middle of a very impressive season. He has played every game but one under new boss Arne Slot and scored in the Champions League victory against AC Milan. And he has earned praise from Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman said: "I think we need everyone to be at their best.
“He is a fantastic player who still can be better. As you saw, he is important with the goal, he is defensively solid, a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded, but obviously the qualities he has are outstanding in my opinion.
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“He is learning, growing, getting better and looking after himself much better in order to be ready every three days as that's what asked.
"And also we have a young player behind him in Jarrell, who is also doing well. We have to keep pushing each other and he is doing a good job."
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