Brahim Traoré: “In high-level football, when you are on the field, there is no age”

Brahim Traoré has made a quick transition to Polish football since joining Cracovia from Caen. At just 22, the French defender is already gaining valuable experience in the Ekstraklasa alongside veterans such as Kamil Glik and Mateusz Klich.

 In an interview with Daniel Sobis for beIN SPORTS USA, Traoré discusses adapting to Polish football, the intensity of the Ekstraklasa, learning from experienced teammates, Cracovia’s coaches and his ambitions for the future.

Daniel Sobis: You came to Cracovia from Caen at just 21 years old. What was the biggest adjustment for you when you arrived in Poland, on the pitch, off the pitch, or inside the dressing room?

Brahim Traoré: I would say the biggest adjustment was adapting to a new football culture and a new championship, with a lot of intensity both on and off the field. I would especially say recovery, because the games come one after another very quickly.

Daniel Sobis: This is your first experience in the Ekstraklasa. How would you describe the league compared with Ligue 2 in France - especially in terms of physicality, intensity and the atmosphere around the games?

Brahim Traoré: I find that the Polish championship is more physical and more intense. What surprised me the most is the atmosphere. Almost every stadium is full for every game, and I really like playing in this kind of atmosphere.

Daniel Sobis: You are playing alongside Kamil Glik, a player with an incredible career and so much international experience. What have you learned from him since joining Cracovia, both as a centre-back and as a leader?

Brahim Traoré: Kamil Glik is a legend. It is a real pleasure to be around him every day. He is a very demanding player, he always gives his best, and he is very encouraging. I can learn a lot from him, both as a player and as a leader.

Daniel Sobis: Does Kamil ever give you advice during games? And what is the one thing you have learned from him that you didn’t know before?

Brahim Traoré: Yes, he gives me advice about my positioning during training sessions, and that helps me a lot.

Daniel Sobis: Cracovia’s dressing room has a really interesting mix of experienced Polish players and younger international players. What is the atmosphere like inside the team, and who are the personalities that make the dressing room special?

Brahim Traoré: There are many different nationalities, which creates a really good atmosphere. Everyone communicates with everyone. I even brought some French music into the locker room, so we have a good mix of cultures.

Daniel Sobis: Mateusz Klich has played in the Premier League, MLS and for the Polish national team. What is it like having a player with that experience in your midfield, and how much does he help the younger players around him?

Brahim Traoré: Frankly, he is one of the players who has impressed me the most with his technical quality and his vision of the game. It shows how much experience he has. He is a bit like Kamil, he is always observing and encouraging, especially the younger players.

Daniel Sobis: Kahveh Zahiroleslam has become an important attacking option for Cracovia. As a defender, what do you see in him in training that perhaps fans don’t see on matchday?

Brahim Traoré: Kaveh is a huge hard worker. He works a lot during training sessions in front of the goal, he never gives up, and he helps me improve because he is a very physical striker.

Daniel Sobis: Ajdin Hasić was one of Cracovia’s most important attacking players last season. From a defender’s perspective, what makes him so difficult to defend against and what is he like as a teammate?

Brahim Traoré: He is probably the most difficult player to defend against. He is very technical and often changes direction. He is a technical leader and also a team leader. He talks a lot to encourage his teammates, and when something is wrong, he says it. That is what I like about him, he doesn’t hide what he thinks.

Daniel Sobis: You’ve already worked under Luka Elsner and now Bartosz Grzelak. What are the biggest differences between the two coaches in terms of their football philosophy, training and the way they communicate with the players?

Brahim Traoré: I would say that Coach Grzelak is very focused on pressing and intensity, but he is also a coach who likes to have possession of the ball. I like this way of seeing football.

Daniel Sobis: Bartosz Grzelak arrived at a difficult moment and quickly had to stabilize the team. What was your first impression of him, and what has he changed in the way Cracovia plays and prepares for games?

Brahim Traoré: He is a coach who demands a lot. He brought back the desire to compete and to win on the field. What I like most is his demand for the team to push itself and produce the best possible performance on the field.

Daniel Sobis: You came through Caen, a club that is now owned by Kylian Mbappé. What was it like being at a club that suddenly became part of such a high-profile project?

Brahim Traoré: It was a period with a lot of changes, and everyone was talking about Caen. It may have been difficult for some people to deal with being so much in the spotlight. I wish everyone at the club the best for this season and for the seasons to come.

Daniel Sobis: Did Mbappé’s involvement with Caen have any impact on you or the players inside the club?

Brahim Traoré: An impact? Yes, I think so. But as I always say, what happens off the field does not concern us as players. We are on the field and we have to give our maximum, no matter what is happening outside.

Daniel Sobis: You are still only 22, but you’ve already played professional football in France, Belgium and now Poland, as well as representing France at youth level. When you look at the next step in your career, what kind of player do you want to become and what do you still feel you need to improve?

Brahim Traoré: Yes, I am only 22 years old, but in high-level football, when you are on the field, there is no age. I already want to improve every day and become a more complete player. One of the things I wanted to improve was my concentration, being fully focused for the entire 90 minutes. I feel that I am already much better in that area now.

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