Eduardo Camavinga on his left-back role: “It’s a different way of defending.” | OneFootball

France international Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (20) gave a wide-ranging interview to Ouest-France. The 2022 Champions League winner with Los Blancos was called up by Les Bleus’ boss Didier Deschamps to feature as Théo Hernandez’s (25) understudy at left-back during this international break.

This tactical switch first came about during the 2022 World Cup where Théo’s older brother, Lucas (27), sustained a season-ending ACL tear against Australia in the group stage, leaving France short of options at left-back. Camavinga even played part of the final against Argentina on the defensive left flank, and he mostly held his own. So much so that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has since fielded him as a left-back when David Alaba (30) or Ferland Mendy (27) were unavailable.

When asked what the World Cup has changed for him, the former Rennes’ prodigy said that he has gained a certain legitimacy, “even if it was not my position. What I had to do, I did it well. It gives me confidence, but the defeat in the final still hurts.“

Speaking about his new left-back role at Real Madrid, Camavinga said it was “mostly to help out” and that he always stepped up for the team. “What changes is the management of depth, it’s a different way of defending, to step back when you’re one against two. You also belong to a flank so you are more restrained. There are other individuals marking supporting you.”

With Théo Hernandez fit, Camavinga is not expected to start in either games for France as they kick off their qualifying campaign for the Euro 2024 against The Netherlands on Friday and Ireland on Monday.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval