“I'm not coming as a savior”, “I'm staying in my place”: MHSC's new midfielder Birama Touré speaks out ahead of trip to Monaco

At 32, the Malian, former captain of Auxerre, “wanted to get back into competition” after a final experience in Saudi Arabia in July. Midi Libre – ALEXANDRE DIMOU

A few days after experiencing his first with MHSC against Auxerre (3-2), and a little over 48 hours before the trip to Monaco on Saturday, the club's second and final summer reinforcement, Birama Touré, gave his first impressions, the conditions of his arrival and the expectations of Michel Der Zakarian, whom he knows well, at a press conference on Thursday, September 26.

Last Sunday you beat Auxerre, have you felt a certain relief in the group since then ?

Of course, when you take three points, there is relief. This week, there were more smiles than the other days. But we remain focused on our objective which is the Monaco match. So we worked hard this week and we are ready.

You spoke of relief after the Auxerre victory. The team had not yet won before this match. In what state did you find the locker room when you arrived at the beginning of September ?

Despite everything, there were always smiles. It's a very good group with good players. They are aware of their quality.
They knew the results weren't there. But at no time did I feel a team that doubted, that thought it was incapable of winning a match. We knew how to do it on Sunday. We put our qualities forward and we left with three points.

You knew Michel Der Zakarian very well at Nantes (between 2012 and 2016, Editor's note). Was he the one who contacted you to make you come to Montpellier at all costs??

Yes, he contacted me. I had him on the phone maybe two or three days before coming here. I knew that there was interest from Montpellier. My name must have been circulating up there and the coach, as he knew me, I had him on the phone directly and that made my arrival easier.

Michel Der Zakarian is an impulsive, hot-blooded person. What he likes is rigor in his team. Apart from that, he is a very good person.

What did he tell you that made you want to come to Montpellier and what memories do you have of your time under his command ?

First of all, I was without a club. I wanted to get back into competition, to get back into training with a group. Then he told me that he had been there for several years, that the club was a family club, that it had a good group and that things weren't going well at the start of the season. He told me that I could come and help the team and that's what made me arrive here.

What I remember about him is that he launched me as a professional at the time, when I was 20 years old in Nantes. We had some good times, including a promotion from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1. We spent three years in Ligue 1 where we stayed up each time. These are good memories and he is the coach who allowed me to play professionally.

Apart from the fact that he has aged a little, has he changed as a coach or is he still the same ?

He's always the same. We know him, he's impulsive, hot-blooded (smile). What he likes is rigor in his team. Apart from that, he's a very good person. I think people who know him know that. We have a good relationship, him and I, and I hope it will continue like that.

What did he ask you to bring ?

In the middle, my experience, because we have Khalil (Fayad) and Rabby (Nzingoula) who are super young, who are very good players. They played a great game on Sunday against Auxerre. It's up to me to bring my experience, to try to bring stability to the middle. I'm not coming here as a savior, I'm integrating into a group that is very good. So, it's up to me to do my bit.

If I need to say something to the group to help it move forward, I will. I have no problem with that, but I've been here for 15 days.

Physically, you weren't able to start last Sunday. Are you now able to start against Monaco ?

Physically, I'm coming back. I feel better and better, day by day. I think that being able to start against Monaco will be a bit tight. It's better to have players at 100%. So, if the coach takes me into the squad, I'll be on the edge. And if he calls me on to come on for 5, 10, 15 minutes, I'll give my all for the team.

You were talking about experience before. You were captain at Auxerre in particular. Is there among the coach's expectations the desire that you take a place as a manager in this locker room ?

Given my age (32 years old), I would say that naturally, I am one of the old guard, so I am one of the executives. But I am staying in my place. I am new in the group, in the club. There are executives who have been here for a long time, whether it is Téji (Savanier), or Wahbi (Khazri), “Ben” Lecomte. I am staying in my place. If I have to say something to the group to help it move forward, I will do it. I have no problem with that, but I have been here for 15 days. I am not going to come and want to take Téji's armband, that would be crazy (laughs). I'm integrating little by little, and from week to week, I'll feel better in the group.

They say you're a big joker in a locker room. Are you already in Montpellier??

No, not yet. I'm someone who's quite reserved, quite shy. I don't necessarily know the players very well. I observe a little, so once I've found my bearings, I could start teasing my teammates.

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