Konate’s delight at being part of a championship-winning team is balanced out by a hunger for more, though, as he already sets sights on adding further success.
“I didn’t start the first match of the season, but I came on at half-time. From that point on, the objective in my head was clear: I wanted to win everything this season and leave no stone unturned,” he told The Athletic on international duty with France.
“Give nobody a chance, whether that’s the rivals for my position or my opponents. And that’s pretty much what happened. I’m very happy with the season we had.”
The No.5 said: “The most important thing is not to rest on our laurels. We won the Premier League, which is magnificent and which made everyone happy, but it’s not an end in itself. I want to win it again next year. Or win the Champions League.
“When next season begins, we shouldn’t forget about the title, because we won it and it’s etched in history, but we’ll need to set it aside and say to ourselves, ‘That’s behind us. Now, do we have the desire and the physical and mental strength to do what we did last season again?’
“It will be harder, because we’re the champions and everyone will want to beat us.”
Konate’s final club task of the season was an unforgettable one: being part of the Premier League victory parade through the city to celebrate the title on May 26.