The Stade de France is waiting, Italy are coming, and Manu Koné can already hear the noise. France’s midfielder expects a charged occasion on Friday night as Zinédine Zidane takes charge of his first home match, with Les Bleus meeting Italy in the Nations League at 20:45.
For Koné, the fixture carries a personal edge. The AS Roma player shares a dressing room in Italy with Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante, who have made no secret of what the match means to them. “They keep telling me in training that it will be important,” Koné said, admitting that there has also been plenty of friendly banter between the Roma teammates.
Italy are in a rebuilding phase after a difficult spell, but Koné insisted France will focus on their own standards. He described the squad as packed with exceptional talent and said the players are particularly motivated to win Zidane’s first game at the Stade de France.
Koné embracing Zidane’s demands
Koné started at the base of midfield in Friday’s 1-0 win over Turkey, a role that asked him to deal with a more physical and duel-heavy contest. He felt he had answered the new coach’s instructions, while stressing that a midfielder must be capable of operating in several positions.
The 25-year-old has played the role before, both with previous clubs and at Roma, and said the single-pivot position did not represent a major change. France used two deeper midfielders at the World Cup, whereas the current system has one player sitting in front of the defence. Koné believes his versatility suits the adjustment and said he will try to meet the demands of whichever role he is given.
Zidane, he added, has been pleased by how rapidly the group has absorbed his ideas despite limited time on the training pitch. France have already recorded two clean sheets, beating Turkey 1-0 on Friday before overcoming Belgium by the same score on Monday.
Ten days into Zidane’s tenure, Koné described the former France great as approachable, direct and attentive to players as individuals. The coach speaks privately with members of the group as well as addressing the squad collectively, giving them confidence to play with freedom, he said. Zidane’s message to Koné was simple: play in the manner that comes naturally.
The midfielder has also been struck by Zidane’s ability in training. “He has lost nothing technically,” Koné said. Watching him at close range has only reinforced the impression of what Zidane must have been like in his playing days. Koné said he is listening closely to advice about positioning, team balance and the responsibilities that come with anchoring midfield.
He also praised the expanded support team around the squad, saying players can quickly find help for treatment, practical needs and work on the pitch. That structure has helped newcomers settle quickly, he believes, and has contributed to the comfort shown by players in recent performances.
A familiar face in midfield and a settled focus in Rome
Lucas Da Cunha, who played in Koné’s place against Belgium, is not a stranger to the Roma midfielder. The pair were together in France youth teams and later met again in Serie A, where Da Cunha’s Como side are eighth in the league. Koné recalled that Da Cunha had once played as a winger around him, making his current midfield role all the more notable.
There is competition between them, but Koné sees it as healthy. The priority, he said, is the collective and winning matches rather than individual selection battles.
Koné also addressed the transfer speculation that surrounded him before he remained at Roma. He acknowledged that events took place during the window but said they are now behind him. His position is clear: he is a Roma player, fully focused on giving everything to the club and meeting its expectations.
His time in Italy has changed him, he feels. Having arrived at 23, Koné says Serie A has brought greater maturity, tactical awareness and a better understanding of how to manage his effort across a match. Roma’s move for him came after a difficult period at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he played from 2021 to 2024, and he remains grateful for the opportunity.
Within Zidane’s staff, Koné highlighted David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie as important points of contact, while underlining that the coaching group is broader than the most familiar names. Msaidie acts as a link across the group and is close to the players, while Bettoni is also available when issues arise.
Fabien Barthez is another familiar figure for Koné. The former France goalkeeper worked with him at Toulouse as part of the goalkeeping staff, and their reunion brought some laughter. Koné said Barthez brings personality to the camp but remains serious in his work, pointing to France’s two shutouts as evidence of a job being done properly.
The scale of attention around Zidane has not surprised Koné. He believes the coach’s career naturally commands that response, and the players will experience the reception alongside everyone else on Friday. As a Parisian, Koné hopes the Stade de France will be loud for a France homecoming that has been a long time coming. For him, an electric atmosphere would be one part of the occasion; victory would complete it.
