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Danno

Knockaert Interview

By Danno, in Leicester City Forum

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lcfcnsk

lcfcnsk

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http://www.footmercato.net/premier-league/entretien-avec-anthony-knockaert-leicester-un-tremplin-pour-rejoindre-un-club-plus-huppe_137498?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Foot Mercato: You started at Racing Club Lens. An experience that was not necessarily a happy ending.

Anthony Knockaert: I was between 8 and 13 years at Lens. They sent me to 13 years because I did not correspond to what they wanted. They told me I could find a new club.So leaving there I was pretty bummed. I wondered if I was done for football because when you go out to a club like that after five years and they tell you that you will not succeed, it's hard to accept. I was lucky enough to go on, because my dad always pushed me. He told me he had to believe in myself and that I could succeed.

FM: This episode digested, you have bounced anyway.

AK: Yes. Then I went two years in Belgium Moucron then I came back to France in Lesquin where it went great. It is at this point that Guingamp picked me. I signed trainee pro two years. I played one year in CFA and they made ​​me sign pro after one season.Guingamp had just descended into National, where I made ​​my first year with Jocelyn Gourvenec. We went back in and L2 Gourvenec trusted me. I started playing and I finished the season with 11 goals and 8 assists. I still had a year contract and at the end of the season I received two offers. Montpellier was a champion of France and was going to play the Champions League. Guingamp but demanded too much money. The other bid was Leicester who wanted to play the rise in the Premier League. I am here for three years now. It is mounted in the Premier League so all is well for the club. This is my last contract year. In the coming months, I think the club will offer me an extension. I think I will not give an extension.

FM: What your visit to Guingamp do you remember?

AK: I can not thank the club. It's Guingamp which allowed me to discover the highest level. All the years I spent there were great past. I only grow and learn. I felt very comfortable there. This is a family club that young players actually work. I had the chance to play under the direction of Jocelyn Gourvenec. As a player, you really feel that this is a coach who trusts the young and wants to move us forward

FM: It's not a regret at having to leave the En Avant Guingamp who plays in Ligue 1 for a few seasons now.

AK: I think that if at the end of my three-year contract in Leicester I had not tasted the Premier League and we were not mounted, it would have bothered me a little bit anyway. The goal was to come here and set up fairly quickly in the Premier League. I was always confident. As soon as I got here, we almost go up in the first year. It happened to me a funny episode elsewhere. It was hard to accept, but I came back last season with other ambitions. We went up late in the season. I have no regrets even though I had a great year in Guingamp.

Leicester, a springboard

FM: Can you tell us about Leicester, a relatively unknown club in France?

AK: This is a club which is quite in the anonymity of French football. This is not a club like Chelsea. The club facilities are exceptional for a club that was in the Championship last year. Then at the fans is an atmosphere of its own. We often play games to three hours at home. We rendezvous at 13.30 as there is no going green. The stadium is full, the fans are looking forward as the match begins. It's a different atmosphere. I had the chance to play in Ligue 2 French and English. In England, it is totally different. I've never experienced a game in the Championship where there were less than 15,000 spectators. It was super supporters present in both good times and bad.

FM: Why did you sign there? Was it a springboard to join a most exclusive club in the future?

AK: With my agent, we set a goal to do my three years at Leicester. The number one goal was to get in the Premier League. Now that it's done, I'll give my all for the club this year (...) I am on my 23 years, it would not hurt to look elsewhere and play in a more upscale club. But I do not take my head off, I'm fine here. But if the future, I can start making a great career, that's all I want. I have goals in mind and I will do everything to try to reach a more upscale club in the years to come. For this, we have to make good seasons in the Premier League. Leicester is a kind of springboard. I wanted to come here and ride in the Premier League. It's done. It is much more publicized and it can open more doors if I'm good on the ground.

FM: You were talking just, you lived a pretty complicated episode in the playoffs in 2013 Can you return it? How have you bounced back?

AK: It took me some time to get over it. I have not slept for three days after that game. It was a really amazing thing. I get a penalty in the 96th minute as there were six minutes of injury time. If I score, it is in the final playoff game and there is a then up to the Premier League. I take my responsibility to take the penalty. I wanted so much to notice that I ran and I missed. What's even more annoying is that they mark behind against and qualified for the final. It was really the worst thing that could happen to me this year. We had a good season and we deserved a better fate. I really struggled to get over it for a good month. I kept thinking about it. I thought: Why did you hit him? Why I did not let anyone else take? I asked myself many questions. Finally, talking with my family, we said that it was useless to have regrets like that and need to move forward. I fought to try to forget about it quickly. It was a difficult experience vivire, but the wheel has turned.

FM: What are the objectives of Leicester this season? What are yours?

AK: The aim of the club is to escape. The first two days we received Everton and we were in Chelsea. We play Arsenal on Sunday. At the schedule at the beginning of the season has not been spoiled. It's nice to go into the deep end directly. We know what we're going to stick this season. For now, it was not too bad even though we lost last week at Stamford Bridge. It was a good game, but we lost. As the coach told us he will have to fight to achieve the goals this season and save. If we can do better and finish in mid-table, that would be ideal. Individually, my goal is to make good games and be important in the impact of the team. I want to do my best for my team. I hope to be decisive and score goals.

A return to France? Not impossible

FM: This Sunday you receive arsenal. What kind of game do you expect?

AK: it'll be a tough game and we know that. At home or away, it will be difficult anyway.But to our audience, we will be keen to do well and win our first game of the season. We really want to win. We know that if we put a big laundry and we try to move them to the maximum, there is way to do something especially they played this week against Besiktas. The coach went to the game and he will give us every little detail to try to win. If we can win this Sunday would be great for us who are promoted and our supporters.

FM: To help you, you can count on Esteban Cambiasso who joined the club. What do you think of his arrival?

AK: It's a bonus for us. He is a player who has experienced the highest level. He played in prestigious competitions. This is a great signing for Leicester. He will bring his experience and above all its features. So we can be proud of this rookie. It will do us good in the middle. It will keep the balloons. We really need a player like that.

FM: You left France in 2012 Play in Ligue 1, is that it is something feasible one day thing for you?

AK: Honestly, if there is a club that would interest me in Ligue 1, it would Lille. I'm from there and all my family is there. It's still a good club. An ambitious team that wants to qualify for the Champions League every season. This is a club that I like. If one day I can join Lille, why not. After that, I am a true fan of the Premier League. I've always loved this championship since I was little. Now that I am, I want to enjoy it. Then we do not know what can happen in football and I could return to France one day.

FM: You have evolved Team France younger. Evolve with the Blues, is in a corner of your head?AK: I think necessarily. It's a goal. We do not know what can happen in football. If I really am a good season this year, there will be the Euro in the following year. It can go very quickly as we have seen with some players last year. I have it in the back of my head. This is the year that will be very important for my career. You really need me to do a good season.

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Devonfox1884

Devonfox1884

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This, just guess up until this point he's worked the fans and media very well.

The trouble is for most of last season and the start of this, he has been largely unimpressive and frustrating. If he thinks a 'big' club are going to come in for him after his recent performances, he is very much mistaken.

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Give the guy a break. He's obviously said a couple ofthings he shouldn;t but every player at every club (including ours) will aspire to play for the real top teams. He's made a mistake in saying it out loud but he's still a young kid so cut him some slack. Nobody can accuse him of not enjoying his time at City or giving 100% to the cause which is all that is really important. 

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