Ibrahima Konate has regained his starting place for both Liverpool and France after a difficult end to last season

Ibrahima Konate has recalled the blunt moment France manager Didier Deschamps told him he was no longer first-choice for Les Bleus. The defender has been in impressive form for both club and country this season.

But it was a different story at the back-end of the 2023/24 campaign, where an injury suffered against Sparta Prague in March ultimately ended up costing him his Liverpool starting berth under Jurgen Klopp.

Out of form, he then proceeded to be dropped by France as he failed to make a single appearance at Euro 2024 with Arsenal defender William Saliba getting the nod at his expense as they went on to suffer a semi-final exit.

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Having now regained his place under Deschamps, Konate has started three of France’s four Nations League’s clashes since last summer’s European Championships.

While he can admit that Saliba deserved to start ahead of him, that did not make being overlooked any easier for the 25-year-old. But putting that aside to encourage the Arsenal defender, the Frenchman has now revealed how such a plight has helped him rediscover his form.

“The tough part was to start regularly and not to play in a major tournament for which we prepared,” Konate admitted to Canal+, as quoted by Get Football News France. “From a private and personal standpoint, it was tough.

“But now, William Saliba is a friend and like a brother to me. I told him it was his moment, and that he had to seize it. Given his performances with Arsenal, he deserved it too. I was happy for him.

“I hadn’t played in recent months and I lacked rhythm, you could feel it in training. The coach told me that today, there are better players than me in this position.

“It was a big lesson for me. Nothing is ever taken for granted in life.”