Liverpool defender Konate admits frustrations over losing France place

Ibrahima Konate admits a lack of football at club level in the closing stages of the season cost him a starting place for France at Euro 2024. 

Konate, 25, is behind Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba in Didier Deschamps’ central defensive pecking order for the European Championship and has not played a single minute in Germany thus far. 

The Frenchman started FIVE of Les Bleus eight qualification matches but lost his place in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool lineup towards the end of the 2023-24 Premier League season. 

He made only 22 league appearances for the Reds throughout the campaign as a combination of injuries and, latterly, a lack of form cost him minutes in the team. 

Konate started only one of Liverpool’s final six top-flight matches and endured a horror show in the Merseyside derby against Everton in April - a 2-0 defeat. 

READ MORE: Konate speaks out on PSG links

Those were the last league minutes he played under the German, relegated to the bench while emerging star Jarell Quansah took over at the heart of defence. 

That lack of game time has no doubt altered Deschamps’ thinking for the national team with the World Cup-winning manager looking elsewhere for defensive options. 

Konate has done everything he could to get into shape for the Euros but admits had he come into the tournament with games under his belt then he would have expected to start for his country. 

Preparations have been intense, Konate told a press conference, but he describes the season finale as a ‘good lesson’ nonetheless. 

Konate: It's frustrating

"I came with a lot of expectations, that's part of football,” he said ahead of France’s Euro 2024 last 16 clash with Belgium.  

"I knew what my place was before the first match. It's frustrating but I know my role on and off the field. A 100% 'Ibou' would never have sat on the bench. 

"I didn't play for a month and a half. But I prepared, and I almost passed out more than once. The preparation was very short. It's part of football. It was a good lesson for me."