Eliesse Ben Seghir: "I feel like I'm reaching new heights"

The Monaco attacking midfielder, who has already scored two goals this season, spoke at a press conference to discuss the match in Rennes this Saturday (9 p.m.).

He has managed to continue his good for this season. Limited by injuries last year, Eliesse Ben Seghir was only been able to play 14 matches in all competitions. A total that he is already close to reaching this season since he has already played eight. Scorer of two goals, he who was elected Player of the Month for August and spoke at a press conference on the eve of the match away to Rennes (9 p.m.). 🎙️

I hired a personal physiotherapist and I stay some afternoons in treatment to allow myself to be even better in this way. It is sure that it is not easy to play every 3 days to recover as well as possible and be in shape but the schedule is made like that, we have no choice.

His fitness

I try to optimize recovery. For this, I hired a personal physiotherapist and I stay some afternoons in treatment to allow myself to be even better in this way. It is sure that it is not easy to play every 3 days to recover as well as possible and be in shape but the schedule is made like that, we have no choice.

Especially since these were not easy conditions to play a good match in Zagreb. For players who like to work with the ball, it was certainly challenging. There are a lot of matches to negotiate this season, that’s what we wanted last year, we have to assume in order to string them together as well as possible.

A busy fixture list, a novelty

It’s not totally new for me since during my first season as a pro, I had the chance to play in the Europa League. At the time, I was mainly doing recovery to stay fit. So I’m more ready today to be physically fit.

The most recent matches

I think it comes from the accumulation of matches but what is happening with the squad is great, the atmosphere is good. This is what allows us to make the difference in the last moments of matches. It is also the coach’s second season, we are assimilating more quickly what he wants to put in place, so we are even more efficient.

The coach’s statistical demands

The coach is trying to help me progress and has set for me several objectives, particularly defensive ones. This is the season where I’m defending the most by dropping back more. He also wants me to be more decisive, and that’s through stats.

He didn’t want to put a figure on what he expected of me, but personally, I’d like to reach the double-double: 10 goals, 10 assists. That hasn’t been achieved often in Ligue 1. I feel like I’m reaching new heights after a season where I was held back by injuries. I have the confidence of the coach and the staff. Today, I’m playing without holding back and I’ll see how it goes.

The team knows that when I’m on the left flank, I like to put myself on my right foot to curl it. I’m used to shooting hard but that wasn’t the case against Le Havre and I was even surprised that it went in. There’s a bit of a battle with Golo who is used to scoring like that.

It is never easy to play there. It is a team made up of very good players who know how to play football well. But we are also competitive with competition everywhere (in the squad). This makes us better, the training sessions are harder and the matches are tight every time.

Eliesse Ben SeghirOn facing Rennes

The impact of Mohammed Salisu

He had the same problem as me last season since he was often bothered by injuries. Today he can continue and he is very impressive physically. He is very strong and is difficult to get past in training.

The match which awaits in Rennes

It is never easy to play there. It is a team made up of very good players who know how to play football well. But we are also competitive with competition everywhere (in the squad). This makes us better, the training sessions are harder and the matches are tight every time.

The leadership of Denis Zakaria

First of all, we are lucky to have him because he is a top player on and off the pitch. The group is young, he accompanies us on a daily basis by speaking with everyone. He is there to act as a link with the team and the staff. Denis is probably the most experienced player with his career at Juventus or Chelsea. He plays in midfield, so he is the one who does the most things in a match.

The Morocco national team

Choosing Morocco did me a lot of good because it is challenging to play when there is an important decision to make. It freed my mind. Whether here in Monaco or in Morocco, I have the confidence of the coach and I joined a team that was a semi-finalist in the World Cup, I am very happy with this choice. Playing with the national team brings me another tactical aspect since the game in Africa is different from Europe, so my range is wider.

I was well received by Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd in particular and I get on well with everyone. Adi Hütter is very different from Walid Regragui, his play is ideal for progressing, I take everything there is to take. Morocco has incredible supporters, we managed to fill a stadium at the Games. Fighting for this country is incredible.