Kounde: staff avoided heavy rotation; I was surprised Norway changed 10 players

After France defeated Norway 4-1, defender Kounde was interviewed by reporters in the mixed zone.

Jules, it must have been very important to win for the coach. I imagine finishing with all three points before the knockout stage was also one of the goals.

Yes, absolutely. It was important. As you said, we wanted to win for the coach. We know he's going through a very difficult time, so we're all with him. It was also important to win for Guy. We know it's not always easy, but I think he did very well. Obviously, qualifying in first place was the goal before the group stage started, so we're happy.

Jules, we saw you communicating a lot with Ousmane Dembele. What were you trying to correct? How was your cooperation on that right flank?

No, we were just discussing tactics, especially defensively, to block the inside passing lanes. For the goal we conceded, I think there were moments when we could have done better. But that is all part of the game.

How would you evaluate Ousmane Dembele's performance?

He played very, very well. Scoring a hat-trick at the World Cup is extraordinary. Beyond that, his aggression off the ball was also very high, and he played a decisive role. He made the right decisions. So I'm very happy for him, truly happy for him.

Jules, with today’s attacking lineup, France once again proved that you have one of the best attacking forces at this World Cup, right?

That is for you to judge. But it is true that we know we have a lot of quality in attack, and we can hurt opponents in different ways – both with quick counterattacks and with more methodical build-up play to break through. So that is very positive.

Jules, Norway made a lot of rotations, but you did not. Are you concerned about fatigue for France, with matches coming in quick succession?

No, I don’t think so. The coaching staff always listens to the players’ feedback. They decided not to rotate too much, which means everyone is in good condition and eager to play. So I’m not too worried about that.

How do you feel your performance has evolved since the start of the World Cup?

I think it has been positive. In our first match against Senegal, we had a difficult first half, partly because we were facing strong opponents. But I think we are performing better and better. There are always things to improve—today I mentioned the goal we conceded and some other situations where we perhaps gave the opponents too many chances. But overall, I think it is positive. We are understanding each other better and our coordination is improving. So I think we are getting stronger.

A question in English. Were you surprised that Norway rotated 10 players today? What do you think of this Norway team?

I'd be lying if I said it didn't surprise me at all. But ultimately, we just have to adapt. No matter what kind of players we face, we always try to do our best and go for the win. We wanted to finish first in the group, and we did, so we're happy about that.

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