Recalled for the first time since September 2022 with the Blues, Jonathan Clauss scored valuable points during the last rally. Highly visible during the victory (2-1) against the Netherlands, the Olympique de Marseille full-back also held his place during the friendly match organized in Lille against Scotland (4-1). In competition with Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard or even Malo Gusto for this position (without forgetting Pierre Kalulu or Mohamed Simakan), the native of Strasbourg can thus believe in his chances for Euro 2024. Guest of Rothen ignites this Thursday on RMCthe former RC Lens player, very close to playing in the last World Cup, also recounted the process which allowed him to digest the failure of his non-call-up for the 2022 World Cup.
“Obviously, things are going very well. With this summons, it gives back a lot of energy. It’s obviously nice to say that after the disappointment of about a year ago and then that of the World Cup which was hard to take, I was able to bounce back. I worked hard, assimilated things well. I was and I am happy to have returned to the French team”first admitted the Phocaean before returning to his discussions with Didier Deschamps for his comeback at Clairefontaine. “Yes, he called me straight away, on Monday evening when he arrived. We discussed things and others. He had things to tell me. Basically, I didn’t necessarily have things to say. But he also left me free to give my point of view, and that allowed us to each express ourselves on a lot of things. For my part, it did me good to be able to chat with him”. And for good reason.
Clauss has digested the 2022 World Cup!
At the bottom of the hole after his non-call for the 2022 World Cup, Clauss was able to bounce back. However, the one who currently performs with OM recognized that this period had left a lot of traces. “We had to do work on it. I talked a lot with someone for two months. We put a lot of things in place. This is precisely what allowed me to store these disappointments which transformed into strength at a given moment. This allowed me to start this second season strong again. I had this discussion with the coach as a final point to these events which could sometimes be very beautiful, sometimes a little less beautiful. To restart on very good things. A World Cup is a childhood dream. When you’re a dreamer like that, when you almost touch with your fingertips what you’ve been dreaming about since you were a kid, obviously it doesn’t take two hours to go away.”.
Far from this psychodrama and now ready to find a place in the right lane of the French defense, the 31-year-old player who indicates, once again, his desire to no longer be considered the man “cute” who arrives at Clairefontaine with “stars in the eyes” finally returned to its position. “We talked a lot about the position. Indeed, he knew that I could play with four. But as long as he hadn’t really seen me play with four at a very high level, obviously he wasn’t going to throw me into the deep end when I hadn’t really played like that at club anymore. Afterwards, he told me that he liked my profile, that there were obviously things to perfect, to manage also in terms of efforts because I am above all a defender. (…) Yes, there are things to improve, but I am on the right track and I must continue to work hard like this”. Considering the performances achieved by the person concerned – whether with the Blues or with OM – the future looks bright in this position in any case…
