Stanis Idumbo: "We are going to give everything to qualify"

He is currently enjoying a great run of form. Having already looked lively in pre-season, Stanis Idumbo carried that momentum into competitive action, delivering a perfect cross to set up Paris Brunner during the 3-2 first-leg victory over Górnik Zabrze in the Conference League play-offs. On the eve of the second leg against the Polish outfit at the Stade Louis-II this Thursday (6:45 PM), the Belgian winger faced the media in a pre-match press conference. Here are the main takeaways 🎙️

On Filipe Luís 🇧🇷

Filipe Luís is a manager who gives the players a lot of freedom, whether it's the youngsters or the senior players. He really gives us confidence and the desire to play our own game. For a player like me who loves to take defenders on and bring some flair to the pitch, I think it perfectly suits my style of play. He’s also a very cheerful person; he knows how to manage the group. He has a winning mentality and loves passing on his football knowledge. He’s Brazilian, and we know what Brazilians are like: they breathe football (smiles)! In any case, he really tries to share his joy for the game and his will to win with us.

His playing style ⚡️

Am I the biggest winner of the summer? I don't know, but either way, this season feels like a fresh start and I'm making the most of it. Defensively? You know, in modern football today, we all have to attack and we all have to defend. I know that the forwards are the first line of defence, and that's something I've had to learn and keep doing since I was a kid. Then, going forward, I make runs for the team; whether I receive the ball or not, the most important thing is to create space. The player on the ball makes the decision; I’m just there to make the runs and help the team.

Lamine Camara's role 🇸🇳

He’s an extraordinary player! He can do everything in midfield: win the ball back, play forward, and he also has a great shot on him. He helps us immensely because he dictates the midfield alongside Denis (Zakaria). We're delighted with what he brings to the team and we hope he just keeps getting better. Beyond his qualities as a footballer, he’s also a great guy who's easy to get along with and have a laugh with. He's very cheerful, cracks a lot of jokes, and laughs all the time. He’s everywhere, you can always hear him (smiles)! He’s an incredible person who always brings good vibes to the squad.

The two-legged tie against Górnik Zabrze 🇪🇺

We knew the first leg was going to be tricky in front of their crowd and on a difficult pitch, but getting the win left us all satisfied. Of course, we would have liked to concede fewer goals, but that's something we were able to correct against Le Havre afterwards. In any case, we’re going to keep pushing forward! Why is qualification so important? For the squad's confidence, because it means we can say we're competing in Europe. So we’re going to give absolutely everything to qualify and go as far as possible in the competition after that.

His personal development 📈

Let’s not lie to ourselves, last season was tough for me, but it helped me grow. Looking back, I'm proud of myself because there were some very difficult periods, but I persevered and kept working hard. I kept my head up and showed everyone that I am not a quitter. All I want today is to play, enjoy my football to the fullest, and help the team. Obviously, I'm in the position I've always wanted to be in, but now I just have to make sure I don't let the manager down, so I'm going to give it my all and do everything I can to be an important player for the team. On a personal level, I'd like to be more clinical—meaning scoring goals, providing more assists, being more of a threat—but also choosing the right moments to attack and knowing when to slow the game down.

On Christian Mawissa 🇲🇨

Christian is highly talented defensively and helps us out a lot. We know he’s not necessarily the type of player to get on the ball and make driving runs down the flank like Flávio Nazinho does, but it’s a different style. The important thing is that he really helps us defensively, and I think once he puts his minor injury setbacks behind him, he will become an outstanding player.

The Stade Louis-II 🪨

It’s a unique stadium! The fans are always there to support us and push us to be better, and that's what drives me to give my all. What makes it special? I'd say the sun! The open space around the arches gives it a really unique feel.