Marie-Antoinette Katoto: “I would take a bit of Kylian’s confidence”

Ahead of the 2022 Women’s Euros, PSG and France’s international striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto (23) sat down to speak to L’Équipe. As well as discussing France’s chances in the tournament, she also spoke about her fellow PSG striker, Kylian Mbappé. Both players were born in the Parisian suburbs, Mbappé in Bondy, and Katoto in Colombes and both faced contractual decisions over the course of this season.

You have said that you’re inspired by Kylian Mbappé, with whom you have a privileged relationship. What would you wish to ‘copy’ most from him?

I would love to have his confidence. I would take a bit of his. It’s a good thing to have, even if I wouldn’t really like to have as much as Kylian. Because he’s always like that, not me. It’s a question of nature, he has always known where he wants to go, what he wants to do. We know each other well. We virtually had the same training at Clairefontaine. He’s a great player but he still hasn’t shown his full potential. Me neither. He has progressed hugely but he still has room for improvement. He knows it, I know it too. We both still have huge room for improvement. But the difference between us is confidence.

To what extent did you hesitate between PSG, Lyon and Barcelona?

To say that I didn’t hesitate would be a lie. Besides, the exchanges I had with the clubs were good. They were up to date on my decision as soon as it was made. But yes, from January 1st to the start of June, I imagined several possibilities, including leaving. There were difficult moments. But I got my head around the idea that, from one day to the next, PSG could come back to me and say, ‘ok, it’s all good, we’ll advance.’ Now, I feel at the heart of a project that has been found again, I have confidence in it.

Were you inspired by Kylian Mbappé, with several offers in hand, before deciding?

No, not really. It’s not exactly the same personal situation. He had his idea, I had mine. From my side, the club was immediately in agreement with the project I wanted to see, that we wanted to see, me my friends, especially my teammates. Because I think we were losing our way a bit, a lot even. I really hope that we find it again.

Click Here: parramatta eels rugby store