This is your sixth season in the colours of RC Strasbourg Alsace. Can you tell us about the development of your role within the team?
"When I arrived, I was a younger keeper [26 compared to 31 today], so I wasn't as experienced. As the seasons have gone by, I've tried to progress and gain experience so that I can bring something extra to the team. I'm now a senior player in the squad. The roles have reversed since I arrived. It's now up to me to bring my leadership and experience to bear, especially as there are so many young players in the squad this season. My most important role is to give them advice and help them!"

And how do you see your game developing?
"I'd say I've improved in every area. It's difficult to single out one area more than another. As you gain experience, little by little you improve overall. My game isn't perfect, I'm still trying to improve and grow with the help of the goalkeeping coach [Stéphane Cassard], but it's more about the details. When you're 31, you can't develop your game as much as when you're 18..."

In what areas do you think you still have room for improvement?
"Reading the game! Today, it's very important to play high up the pitch and not stay on your line, so you can relieve your defence by cutting out certain passes from deep. But it also depends on the coach's vision of the game. This season, we're trying to play a bit more attacking than last season, so I'm more in demand in this area and I think I have room for improvement. After that, the most important thing for a keeper is to be consistent in his performances, and that's what I've been trying to do since I arrived."

'It's important to listen to your body'

What is a typical training week like for a goalkeeper?
"At the start of the week, there's always a heavy physical workload. We work a lot on the legs and upper body. Then, from the middle of the week, we start to do more exercises with the ball: aerial challenges, footwork, etc. The sessions are lighter to keep us fresh for the weekend. At the same time, we also use video, looking at footage from previous matches. If there are things we can improve, we'll work on them specifically during the week."

To talk in more detail about the physical aspect, as the position requires a different kind of work from the outfield players, how are the sessions organised?
"It's true that they're different but, like the position, they've also evolved. It's not like in the past, when you had to jump around, dive ten times to the left and then ten times to the right to be physically fit. Today, we work more on technique. You'll have two or three shots to do, but they have to be clean, then you take a break and start again. I find that these sessions, apart from being more enjoyable, are much more effective."

What do you mean by that?
"They allow you to work on situations that are much closer to those you'll encounter at the weekend, because in a match you never have ten balls in a row coming down your left side... It's very important to have made progress in this area. It's thanks to the new generation of goalkeeping coaches who have understood that the game has evolved and that the sessions need to evolve too."

Is it necessary to work on things in addition to training when you're a goalkeeper?
"That's different for everyone. Given my experience, I know my body a little better than I used to and I've learnt that it's important to listen to it. Today, if I feel a bit tired, I say to myself: 'OK, I'll push less'. But when I was young, I didn't pay any attention, I could just add sessions to my week. It's with experience that you learn what you need to be good in matches and to have a good season. After that, there's no secret. Confidence plays an important role, and as well as being good physically, you need to feel that the coach and the club are behind you."

'You mustn't let your attention wander'

You mentioned the use of video. How important is it to you?
"The images allow you to give credence to what you say. You can always discuss certain situations on the pitch, at half-time or at the end of the match, but video allows you to prove or disprove what you've said. It's a tool that has become very important, not only for the goalkeepers but also for the team. Whether it's for the goalkeeping coach or the head coach, it allows you to analyse situations and the strengths and weaknesses of each individual."

How do you use it personally?
"I like to look at how I could have handled certain situations better, to try and avoid making the same mistake twice. When you use images, it's to improve your game and not repeat the same errors. The video analyst prepares an extract and then I discuss it with the goalkeeping coach. Sometimes we go over and discuss all the situations I've faced during a match."

The goalkeeper's role can be nerve-wracking, given that he always has to be attentive even when he has little to do. How do you deal with that?
"When you play in a team where you don't have a lot of work to do, it's not always easy to stay focused, but that's not really the case here [laughs]. Last season, for example, I had a lot of work to do, so I always stayed focused. But it's true that when you find yourself not touching the ball for 10-15 minutes, it's very important to stay alert so you don't lose your rhythm. How do I do that? I'd say that's another thing you improve with experience. You can't let your attention wander to other things. You mustn't hesitate to speak up and put your team-mates back in their place. That way, you're sure to stay in the game. If I feel like I'm losing the thread, I say to myself: 'OK, I've got to give my team-mates some pointers'."

'In your penalty area, you have to show that you're at home'

It's a position that also offers great vision of the team's play...
"Yes, when you're goalkeeper, you see the whole pitch and all the spaces. As soon as you understand the game tactically, you can add something extra. Generally, beyond the defence, I can see where things aren't working in midfield and my advice can be crucial in enabling my team-mates to correct them. Incidentally, I think that if many good coaches are former goalkeepers, it's partly because they were able to develop their ability to read the game over many years in that position."

Have there been any games where you've felt a little invisible?
"Of course there are! There are always one or two games a season where things go the goalkeeper's way. It's hard to single one out because it's happened to me many times since I've been here [laughs]. But even if you're in a period where success is with you, you have to stay focused to make it last as long as possible. You can't give up. You can have a great game, but if you miss once, your team could lose... That's how it is, that's the job of a goalkeeper!"

We often hear that a goalkeeper shouldn't be a victim. Is that the key?
"Yes, every keeper has his own character, some are calm and others a bit crazier, but the important thing is to have authority. Within your own penalty area, you have to show that you're at home. For example, in one-on-one situations, you have to let the striker know he is not welcome on your territory. And if you win your first duels, psychologically it's going to become more complicated for him. It's very important to make the striker doubt himself."

'The vibe you give off is very important'

How do you react when you concede a goal?
"When I was young, every time I conceded a goal, I'd go crazy... But over time, I've realised that it doesn't do any good. When you concede a goal, you're already going through a negative moment, so there's no point adding to it. You shouldn't 'kill' a team-mate if they've made a mistake, because a match lasts 90 minutes and nothing is ever over. When you start shouting and making big gestures, like I did when I was starting out, it doesn't give you a good image and it doesn't reflect well on the team."

Are you calmer now?
"Yes, I'm calmer, I lift my head back up straight away and I try to convey positive vibes to the team by encouraging them. That way, it's easier for them to stay focused on the match than if you start getting heated with your defenders. The way you behave and the vibe you give off is very important! These are things you learn over time."

Which strikers have caused you the most problems in Ligue 1 Uber Eats?
"Apart from the stars, like Kylian Mbappé, I've come across a lot of good strikers who were at 'small' clubs. But the one I'd like to mention isn't a striker, it's Montpellier midfielder Téji Savanier. He always does things you don't expect. He's really surprising."

'If I want to become a legend like José Luis Chilavert, maybe I need to start scoring'

You've been one of the best goalkeepers in the league for several years now. Do you feel you're getting the recognition you deserve?
"Maybe not 100%. When you're playing in mid-table or in a relegation battle like last season, the general public doesn't often watch your games, so it's harder to get recognised than if you're playing in a team fighting for European places. But I think I've done well since I've been here."

What do you still have to do to go down in Racing's history?
"If I want to become a legend like José Luis Chilavert, maybe I need to start scoring [laughs]. More seriously, I'm going to carry on doing my job and we'll see if I can leave a mark on the club's history."

Are you itching to experience the joy of scoring?
"[Laughs] Of course I want to score once in my career. It would mean that we weren't really in the game at the time, but well... We'll see! If it's meant to be, it will be!"

Matz Sels' Ligue 1 Uber Eats stats since his arrival:
153 matches
412 saves (sixth-best total)
37 clean sheets (sixth-best total)

>> PLAYER PROFILE: Matz Sels

>> CLUB PROFILE: RC Strasbourg Alsace