Cheick Doucoure unique interview: Crystal Palace midfielder discusses his journey from Africa to Selhurst Park | Soccer Information

It is the early 2000s and Cheick Doucoure is about to take his first steps as a child.

“This can be a story my father instructed me,” he tells Sky Sports activities. “I hadn’t began strolling but, so he waited on one aspect of the room with a soccer. Then I simply stood up, walked in direction of it and took it.”

The now-Crystal Palace midfielder was successfully studying the sport when he was nonetheless in his nappies – so, taking a look at Doucoure’s type since coming to the Premier League, it is no shock to see him doing the identical at this stage.

Final season’s debut marketing campaign in England noticed him rank second, solely behind Declan Rice, for Premier League interceptions throughout the entire division. He was additionally within the high 10 midfielders for tackles, clearances and successful the ball within the defensive third.

This season, he has began the season with equally excessive numbers. No surprise it was reported that Liverpool had been concerned about him late in the summertime switch window simply gone.

“I haven’t got a secret!” says the 22-year-old when requested about these stats. “It is the work on the coaching pitch. I all the time attempt to get higher, by watching movies of a few of the finest Premier League midfielders. I be taught from that after which proceed to work.

“I watch a whole lot of N’Golo Kante from when he was at Chelsea and Leicester. He is somebody who did so much operating, he was all the time within the duels and interceptions. Yaya Toure too, I’ve watched him on a regular basis since he was youthful.”

So from that second when he walked for the primary time as a toddler, Doucoure had to turn out to be the footballer he has gone on to be.

However not as a result of it was destiny, or he was drawn to that profession very early on in life, however as a result of his household needed to discover some earnings.

Regardless of being born in Mali, Doucoure grew up within the Abidjan space of the Ivory Coast. His mom traded in a neighborhood meals market whereas his father was a retired port employee.

There was not a whole lot of regular cash coming in and Doucoure’s dad and mom couldn’t afford to ship him to secondary college.

“Truthfully, it wasn’t simple. My household could not afford a lot,” Doucoure recollects. “I attempted to be completely happy each day, as my dad and mom gave me every little thing I might ever want. Particularly in soccer.”

That is the place Doucoure’s father comes again in, as as soon as that toddler changed into a participant with potential, it was mutually agreed between father and son a profitable soccer profession needed to be achieved for the sake of the household.

“He is so, so essential to my profession,” says Doucoure about his father. “My complete household had been, however my father most of all.

“On a soccer stage, he actually tried to encourage me, drive me and push me ahead. Typically it wasn’t simple, however he was all the time there to push me. Now, he is actually pleased with me.”

Doucoure’s huge breakthrough got here courtesy of the Jean-Marc Guillou (JMG) academy, which is famend as one of many main key builders of African expertise.

Based within the Ivory Coast by Guillou, who as soon as mentored a younger coach named Arsene Wenger at Cannes within the Nineteen Eighties, the academy launched the careers of the Toure brothers, Yaya and Kolo, together with Emmanuel Eboue, Salomon Kalou and Gervinho.

When the academy moved to Mali, it helped discover and develop Yves Bissouma, RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara – and it gave Doucoure his soccer alternative, an training – plus his household the prospect to maneuver again to their house nation once more.

“Jean-Marc Guillou is such an excellent coach and tutor,” Doucoure remembers. “He taught us the way in which and what to do. And since I used to be younger, I’ve recognized what to do, I’ve recognized the work I’ve wanted to do, morning, midday and evening and each single day.

“There have been particular footwork video games, heading video games, shoulder video games – all to essentially enhance the approach. And that is why so many people within the academy have come out so properly.

“He is somebody who has allowed so many gamers to be the place they’re everywhere in the world, and so they’re good gamers too. We’re actually pleased with that and so is he, wanting again at what has occurred.

“I do know I wasn’t the most effective within the academy. However at the moment, taking a look at my work and the place I’m, I’m actually pleased with the place I’m.”

Within the academy, Doucoure had a particular means of enjoyable himself – by way of taking part in Sudoku puzzles. “I performed it infrequently. One in all our lecturers confirmed it to me, so I performed it infrequently.

“I’ve stopped, I am extra of a PlayStation individual now! For me, it was about psychological coaching. I feel it is helped me acquire an increasing number of of these interceptions!”

That final remark was a little bit tough-in-cheek, however Doucoure’s midfield numbers can’t be laughed at. It is useful to Palace, because the 22-year-old and summer season signing Jefferson Lerma type an important a part of an Eagles aspect who – together with Arsenal and Newcastle – have essentially the most clear sheets out of any Premier League group this season.

“Yeah, he is actually nice,” says Doucoure of Lerma. “He is are available in and immediately and had an affect on the group.

“He is introduced a way of calmness and we are attempting to get the most effective out of him. Each sport, he is giving the most effective he is obtained. We’re pleased with him and we have to proceed working properly with him.

“Final season, I performed a little bit alone as a holding midfielder. Since he is are available in, we have performed as a two and he is helped me so much.

“Us two, we each have profiles that go properly collectively. We attempt to higher one another with regards to getting on the ball and successful duels. We do an excellent job in the course of the park and it wants to hold on like that.”

Doucoure performs with Lerma at membership stage and will likely be seeking to type a Mali midfield partnership with Bissouma when the Africa Cup of Nations is available in January. In fact, he and Bissouma know one another properly from their days taking part in collectively on the JMG Academy.

Bissouma is 5 years Doucoure’s senior and, with the Tottenham midfielder difficult for the Premier League and a spot within the Champions League, is that the place he’s heading?

“Yeah positively,” he says. “The purpose is to play on the highest stage of soccer. I am doing all I can to attain this and as I proceed to work, I hope that sooner or later I’ll get to that stage.”

However is that purpose achievable at Palace? “Yeah, I hope to develop with the membership. I hope that the membership additionally has this ambition to achieve the very best stage. So I hope that we get there collectively.”

Why not? Palace have been defensively sound this season and with younger skills Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise near full health – and tied right down to the membership for a few years – the assault might be firing on a number of fronts too.

“Yeah I feel the primary a part of the season has been a bit blended. At occasions we have completed properly, typically much less properly,” Doucoure says.

“We’re making an attempt to all the time get higher on the small particulars and I feel the second half of the season goes to be higher.”

Observe Crystal Palace vs Everton on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms this Saturday by way of the stay weblog from 1.30pm; kick-off 3pm. Then watch free highlights from 5.15pm…