Lamine Camara: "I am focused on my season with AS Monaco"

He has been one of the key figures in Monaco’s strong start to the campaign. Brilliant in every appearance, Lamine Camara shined once again last weekend in the victory over PSG, winning a club-record 12 duels. Eager to carry this momentum into Saturday’s clash in Strasbourg (5:15 PM), the Senegalese midfielder spoke at a press conference on the eve of the trip to Alsace. Here are the excerpts 🎙️

On the Recent Transfer Window 🔁

It's true that it was a somewhat hectic and difficult period. But in the end, it’s part of a footballer's life. I managed to stay professional and not dwell on it too much, and I turned the page to quickly shift my focus to the match against Paris, because staying stuck on it serves no purpose. Did I want to leave? Saying so now would give the impression that I am no longer focused on the present with AS Monaco. While there was a possibility I could leave, it didn't happen at the last minute, and these are things that happen in football. I am now fully focused on my season with AS Monaco because I know that if I keep this momentum going, I can really help the team perform.

The Role of Teammates in These Moments 💪

Denis (Zakaria) always plays his role as a leader, captain, and big brother! He spoke to me a lot the day after the transfer window closed, telling me I needed to keep going, work hard, and give my absolute best. Eric (Dier) and Thilo (Kehrer) also helped me a lot to refocus, and I want to thank them for that.

On Filipe Luís 🇧🇷

He is a top coach who never hesitates to talk to us when needed and offer advice! He treats everyone the same way; he is always there to help us and push us to give our best. I am keeping up my momentum and continuing to perform to help the team, but it’s really nice to hear the things he has said about me. I'm going to keep working hard to earn even more of his trust.

His Leadership Role Within the Squad 🤝

I think being a leader isn’t just about being the captain; it’s also about giving everything on the pitch, running hard, and helping the team. It’s an honor that the coach named me as one of the four captains! I am proud of it, and I hope to keep this momentum going to be a leader both on and off the pitch. Besides, during a match, instructions don't only come from the coach. We also have senior players like Denis who don't hesitate to give us advice. I also don't hesitate to help young players like Aymen (Assab), Safouane (Benzahra), or Anis (Soubeir) whenever they need it, because being a leader also means helping your teammates.

On the Trip to Strasbourg 🥨

It's always a big deal to win against PSG, but we mustn't fall into the trap of overconfidence! Every match will be different and difficult, and that will be the case in Strasbourg. They are a team that has always shown their best, with good players. We know it won't be easy; we saw what happened there last year, when we were leading 4-1 and ended up losing 5-4. But we’ve worked hard all week, and we are going there with a lot of ambition to bring back all three points.

The Last Few Months of Competition 🌎

My recent experiences, like the World Cup and the transfer window, have helped me mature and be harder on myself! I know these kinds of moments can help me; that was the case at the World Cup, but also over the last few days during the transfer period. I managed to turn the page, focus on the season, and stay in form.

On His Development 📈

I try to improve by learning every season. I've had different coaches who have advised me on all aspects of the game, and Filipe Luís helped me a lot to be comfortable on the ball, which used to be a bit of a weakness of mine, just like my tackling which sometimes penalized me. I managed to correct all of that, and today I feel much better! In any case, the coach called me and told me he was going to play me as a number 6, that he would really like me to use the ball better and dictate the play. To do that, you need to have a clear head and be calm with the ball at your feet, and that's what I try to do in every match.

His Relationship with Sadibou Sané 🇸🇳

Sadibou and I have a special relationship! We come from the same village, and our houses are actually right across from each other (smiles). I've known him since we were kids, and he's someone who works incredibly hard, who always gives his best, and you can see that in matches. We will need him this season! I am here as a big brother to him, and I don't hesitate to give him advice if necessary. He is already focused, he knows what to do for the team, and I wish him the best. Either way, he's a great guy, has a good heart, and is always smiling.

On Eric Dier 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

We all know his quality on the ball and his ability to play out from the back. He helps us in midfield a lot by finding us with good passes. It's really nice playing alongside him because he has a lot of experience and allows the team to build up smoothly.

Goals for the Season 📅

Do we want to compete with PSG? First of all, Paris isn't the only team in the league! There are other big teams like Marseille, Lens, and Strasbourg, who we are about to play. But for now, we are just trying to take things one game at a time. It's true that we have a very good squad, especially since players like Golo' and Balo' have stayed, and that feels good. They are quality players that we will need, but we are staying focused on the season and we'll see where we end up at the finish line!