Team captain of France's Under-19 European Championship winning side and tracked by Europe's elite, Gueida Fofana, the midfielder of Le Havre has delivered an exclusive interview to Goal.com about his future.
Goal.com: About your future, you are tracked by big clubs (Chelsea, Liverpool)...
Gueida Fofana: Yes, there are big European teams interested in me. Honestly, this is very pleasing. But I will ask to leave Le Havre. I need a good sports project behind the club to allow me to progress, with a framework that helps me improve.
Currently under contract, would you leave if a club makes an offer that Le Havre can’t refuse? And what club would you go to? Chelsea?
Yes, it's true [I would leave]. Obviously, playing at a big club tempts me, but I do not really have a favourite destination. As I said, I want a club that proposes a good sports project.
Would it make you happy to play with France Under-19 team-mate Gael Kukuta at Chelsea?
(Laughing) Yes, of course it would make me happy. As well as with Gilles [Sunu] at Arsenal, Francis [Coquelin] in Lorient or Chris [Mavinga] in Liverpool. To go to a club where there is already one of my [international] team-mates, it would be nice, for sure. I'll be happy if there is a beautiful sports project for me. But playing with Gael, of course it would make me happy.
Are you not afraid you would ‘polish the bench’ if you left Le Havre for a big European team?
Sure, it is not easy. I must weigh up the pros and cons. But that does not scare me. The important thing is that the club offers me a project that will allow me to progress, to gain experience. There is a risk, but I'd say that’s football. Overnight, you can be pushed or forgotten.
What are your goals for the new season?
To win promotion to Ligue 1. I really hope we will succeed. We are all highly motivated to earn a spot in Ligue 1 next season, and hopefully it will happen. From a personal standpoint, my goal is to play more, to have as much playing time as possible.
You've won the European Under-19 Championships against Spain this summer. Is not it difficult to get back into club football?
Psychologically, it is not easy. We [the France U-19s] spent six weeks together. We had other rules, other ways of doing things, a way of training. But we're all back to work and to do the right things!
Speaking of the Euros, what happened during the competition?
It was very cool. We were a united group who lived well together. We tried to put aside our individuality and it worked well. We all had the same goal: to be crowned European champions, and we all gave everything to go in this direction.
How did you feel about the competition as captain of France's Under-19s?
When you wear the armband, you have certain responsibilities that suit me perfectly. It takes a person who likes to talk, give advice, to invest in the field. I really enjoyed being the captain of my team and I am satisfied with the role that I played.
As captain, you lifted the trophy for the U-19 European Championship. How did you feel at the moment?
I felt great pride. It only happens to one player and it happened to me. I'm super proud. In addition, it was not very far from home, for my family, in front of the French public. It was unforgettable.
Do you think about a selection for the senior team?
The national team is a bonus. It happens when you have demonstrated your potential with your club and played very good seasons. So you think about it, but much work remains.
Do you think you have brought some joy to some of the French public after the fiasco of the France team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?
We arrived after what happened at the World Cup. We did not know we were going to generate much excitement, either from the public or the media. We did not expect to play before such a crowd. If the team is a pleasure to people, so much the better. We are pleased to be able to bring happiness, especially as we have played a good competition with four wins and a draw. All of this is exceptional.
Goal.com: About your future, you are tracked by big clubs (Chelsea, Liverpool)...
Gueida Fofana: Yes, there are big European teams interested in me. Honestly, this is very pleasing. But I will ask to leave Le Havre. I need a good sports project behind the club to allow me to progress, with a framework that helps me improve.
Currently under contract, would you leave if a club makes an offer that Le Havre can’t refuse? And what club would you go to? Chelsea?
Yes, it's true [I would leave]. Obviously, playing at a big club tempts me, but I do not really have a favourite destination. As I said, I want a club that proposes a good sports project.
Would it make you happy to play with France Under-19 team-mate Gael Kukuta at Chelsea?
(Laughing) Yes, of course it would make me happy. As well as with Gilles [Sunu] at Arsenal, Francis [Coquelin] in Lorient or Chris [Mavinga] in Liverpool. To go to a club where there is already one of my [international] team-mates, it would be nice, for sure. I'll be happy if there is a beautiful sports project for me. But playing with Gael, of course it would make me happy.
Are you not afraid you would ‘polish the bench’ if you left Le Havre for a big European team?
Sure, it is not easy. I must weigh up the pros and cons. But that does not scare me. The important thing is that the club offers me a project that will allow me to progress, to gain experience. There is a risk, but I'd say that’s football. Overnight, you can be pushed or forgotten.
What are your goals for the new season?
To win promotion to Ligue 1. I really hope we will succeed. We are all highly motivated to earn a spot in Ligue 1 next season, and hopefully it will happen. From a personal standpoint, my goal is to play more, to have as much playing time as possible.
You've won the European Under-19 Championships against Spain this summer. Is not it difficult to get back into club football?
Psychologically, it is not easy. We [the France U-19s] spent six weeks together. We had other rules, other ways of doing things, a way of training. But we're all back to work and to do the right things!
Speaking of the Euros, what happened during the competition?
It was very cool. We were a united group who lived well together. We tried to put aside our individuality and it worked well. We all had the same goal: to be crowned European champions, and we all gave everything to go in this direction.
How did you feel about the competition as captain of France's Under-19s?
When you wear the armband, you have certain responsibilities that suit me perfectly. It takes a person who likes to talk, give advice, to invest in the field. I really enjoyed being the captain of my team and I am satisfied with the role that I played.
As captain, you lifted the trophy for the U-19 European Championship. How did you feel at the moment?
I felt great pride. It only happens to one player and it happened to me. I'm super proud. In addition, it was not very far from home, for my family, in front of the French public. It was unforgettable.
Do you think about a selection for the senior team?
The national team is a bonus. It happens when you have demonstrated your potential with your club and played very good seasons. So you think about it, but much work remains.
Do you think you have brought some joy to some of the French public after the fiasco of the France team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?
We arrived after what happened at the World Cup. We did not know we were going to generate much excitement, either from the public or the media. We did not expect to play before such a crowd. If the team is a pleasure to people, so much the better. We are pleased to be able to bring happiness, especially as we have played a good competition with four wins and a draw. All of this is exceptional.
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