Ligue 1: Monaco's Youssouf Fofana says he is 'ready' to take over from N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba for France

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, speaking in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, says he is "ready" to take over from Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante in the France midfield, as he opened up on his club's hopes for the Ligue 1 title and his own individual career progression.

Fofana, 24, has 15 caps for France, including a substitute appearance in the 2022 World Cup final, where Les Bleus lost to Argentina on penalties despite Kylian Mbappe's stunning hat-trick.

He is set to feature in Ligue 1 on Monday night, when Monaco play host to struggling Lyon at Stade Louis II, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK.

YF: "First of all, we've changed coaches. It's a different philosophy, a different way of playing. We've had some big arrivals like [Denis] Zakaria, [Mohammed] Salisu, [Wilfried] Singo, Philip [Kohn]. We've got experience, a new mentality and a change of structure. It's like starting from scratch."

"That's a tricky question. In terms of experience, yes, it's the strongest. We've got more players, more internationals, who've played in some big matches. Individually, I don't think this is the best I've played in. Collectively, however, it is."

"Even without that lead, it would be yes. When you play for Monaco, you have to finish in the top three. Our lead is good for us, but we still have to finish in the top three."

"You never know. Anything's possible. In this kind of season, you need some luck to stay not too far from top spot. I don't see why not. Over the last few seasons, we've proved that we can string wins together, with 12 or 13 wins in a row."

"It's one of our regrets. There are also matches where we deserved more points. I'm thinking of the draws at Nantes (3-3) and Lorient (2-2). We lost four points in those two matches. We'd be two points behind PSG without those."

"Exactly. It wasn't a choice by default. I had offers last summer, but the club didn't push me out. The coach had some important words for me: 'If you have to leave, you can, but if you stay, I'll be happy to work with you.'"

"That's exactly it. I take steps back in my choices. A career is built over 15 years, so I'm taking my time. I always want to be on the right track. I do everything I can to keep my career on track. Strasbourg then Monaco for four years: I'm growing up slowly. I didn't want to join a big dressing room with no experience."

"Yes! Even two years ago, I'd have said you were mad. If this is happening to me now, it's because what I've put in place in my career is working. I've got to keep going in this direction. I have a career plan, yes. Even if you never know what the future holds."

"He's been very important for all the midfielders who've come through at Monaco. He sees football differently, and he's an important person for young Frenchmen who've been told over and over: 'You have to be like this, technically like that.' Cesc breathes football. The first thing I thought when I saw him was that, if he wanted, he could ignore me. I was a nobody to him. But no, he talks to everyone. He wants to know how you're doing, how your parents are doing. So, naturally, you respect him, you forget about his career. You respect the person. And then, technically, he's always there, always the right pass at the right tempo. He used to come and see me and talk to me about tactics and football. He teaches you control, the first touch, information gathering, body position. He told me: 'Don't be afraid to play forward. Take risks, have fun.' He changed my way of seeing football enormously."

"I'm a player who thrives on confidence. Maybe I lacked a little bit of that. I've reached an age where I know myself better and I've gained experience. It's like with the French national team, where I had to wait a year for another start. I've worked hard at club level and even with Les Bleus. Success is when opportunity meets hard work. Last month, I had an opportunity with France. I took it."

Until last weekend, you had scored two goals in your last 140 shots for Monaco. But you scored two goals with France in November and another with Monaco last weekend [against Rennes]. Has something changed there too?

"Up to now, things have been going well in training. But in matches, with the adrenalin and excitement, it didn't go as well. But confidence helps. At the start of the season, it was getting closer and closer. After that, it's like ketchup... three goals in a month... why not score in every match until the end of the season now?"

"I feel ready, yes, because I don't lack ambition. But Pogba and Kante marked an era for the French team between Euro 2016 and Euro 2021 when they took on the world. Together, they were unbeatable. I'm going to give myself the chance to reach their level."

"(Laughs) No, not discouraging. It pushes me to do more. No one ever takes a place for granted. There's incredible quality in the French team. You have to raise your game to get there. I don't think about the competition. I can learn from Warren, he has qualities that I don't necessarily have."

"It helped me to progress. I took my selection as a validation of my work. And since then, I've doubled my efforts. When you play in the World Cup, I'm not going to say you've seen everything in football, but it's still the best of the best. So I said to myself, 'See you in four years' time'. And this time, maybe to win it."

"It's not easy. But Monaco-Lyon is always a big game. They've got individual talents that can really hurt you. It's the last home match of the year, and we want to stay in the top three. It's always a tough match against Lyon, and we want to show we've not forgotten that."

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