“He is the player who has grown the most since my arrival”: Philippe Clement, Monaco coach since January, has never hidden his satisfaction at seeing the progress of his vice-captain Axel Disasi, called up to the Blues on Monday to replace Presnel Kimpembe. Even if he was one of the 55 shortlisted by Didier Deschamps, the 24-year-old defender had so far only had one call-up to the France Espoirs team, without playing, and three small selections for the under-20s. years in 2018.
Good performances in recent weeks
However, his performances for two years, and in particular his very last ones, including those as a right-back against the Red Star of Belgrade (4-1) then Sunday against Marseille (2-3), decided Deschamps to call him in place of the Parisian, insufficiently recovered from an injury.
Even without international experience, the versatile and enduring vice-captain of Monaco (he played every minute in Ligue 1 this season) already knows many of the globalists, including obviously his partner Youssouf Fofana and his ex-teammate Aurélien Tchouameni, for whom he will be an important support. He will also know how to behave in an altruistic way, as he always has, and should prove to be a stabilizing element for the group in Qatar.
“They call me the ‘young old man'”
“They call me the ‘young old man'”, smiles about this subject Disasi who is of a rather posed nature. “My parents always told me to stay humble, he says. That’s what I try to convey on the ground.” However, he sometimes slips, like on Sunday when, after the defeat suffered at the last second against Marseille, he cracked up in front of the camera with a scathing formula: “The referee was for Marseille.”
Despite his frustration, he quickly watered down his comments in the mixed zone later. “My words were a bit harsh. Now that I’m colder, the idea doesn’t change, but the words are calmer and calmer.” It was a few hours before knowing that he was going to replace Kimpembe and potentially be the 72nd Monegasque in history for the France team.
Since signing for Monaco in the summer of 2020 from Reims, for 15 million euros, the defender has been unanimous. At the time, Niko Kovac, Clement’s predecessor, had immediately promoted him to vice-captain at 22 years old. The Croatian praised his calm off the pitch and his athletic abilities during matches, already seeing in him an international future.
“He has evolved a lot” with the ball, underlines Clement
“When I arrived in Monaco, I heard that he had a lot of strength, but that with the ball, it was less good”, Philippe Clement recently explained about his player. “However, in recent months, he has evolved a lot in this area, shown his qualities. He has worked very hard, often after sessions, to improve his individual level. He is the player who has grown the most since my arrival.”
Disasi is now able to play as a central defender in a four-man rear guard, or in a three-man line, but also a right-back in a four-man defense. Like Lilian Thuram, his future in selection could well take shape on the right, even if in club he plays in the axis.
“His best position remains central defender”
“He can play both positions. But his best position remains central defender”, assures Clement, who appreciates the energy of his player, his adaptability and his ability to be decisive, as in his young years spent attacking. “He uses his rage in a positive way for the team but you have to control it well. all competitions combined, editor’s note). He has kept his sense of goal and often scores in training. He has a very great future if he continues like this.”
“I walk by feeling and sometimes I let my feelings express themselves on an action, concludes the player. It is true that rage is a feeling that characterizes me. If that can galvanize my teammates or give them energy, it ‘is perfect.”