Manu Koné’s first international outing under Zinedine Zidane offered Roma another encouraging note during the break, as France opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 win away to Turkey.
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in a closely contested match against Vincenzo Montella’s side, although the forward was later forced off through injury. For Koné, however, the evening was chiefly about a different responsibility in France’s midfield and the confidence shown in him by the new national-team coach.
Koné given a deeper midfield task
Zidane selected the Roma midfielder in a three-man unit alongside Adrien Rabiot and Rayan Cherki. Rather than asking Koné to play the role he has generally occupied under Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma, the France coach positioned him in front of the defensive line.
The assignment was to bring balance to the side’s central department, screening the back line and helping France remain organised through an even contest. It was an unfamiliar starting point for Koné, but he settled into the role with assurance.
Zidane praises Roma midfielder’s adaptability
The France coach made clear after the final whistle that the experiment had been deliberate. Zidane wanted to assess whether Koné could handle a more restrained and disciplined midfield brief than the one he is used to at club level.
“Manu is not accustomed to playing in that position,” Zidane said. “I wanted to see that side of his game, and he did very well in terms of balance.”
The result gave Zidane a winning beginning in charge of France, while Koné’s performance added another layer to his profile. In a season where midfield roles can shift between club and country, the Roma player showed he can respond when a coach asks him to protect the structure rather than simply drive the game forward.
