Candid Maxime Esteve on his up and down Burnley form, future, survival hopes and captaincy

The centre-back instantly attracted plenty of admirers following his early displays after making the move to Turf Moor from Montpellier two years ago.

Esteve was a leading light in a Burnley side that broke records in the Championship last season, conceding just 16 goals and keeping 30 clean sheets.

But back in the Premier League, the Frenchman’s displays have been mixed - perhaps not helped by the regular change in systems.

But Esteve refuses to make any excuses, admitting he needs to improve as quickly as possible – even at the relatively young age of 23.

We caught up with the defender ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Anfield, where Scott Parker’s side will be looking to spring a surprise and win for the first time in the league since October.

Here’s what he had to say:

Conceding so many goals

“It's tough. I think also the confidence. I'm not like at the highest level we can have.

“Also last season, I think when you build up, you think about the 12 clean sheets we had in a row. When you start the game, it was so solid, and the other team know they cannot score, it was close to impossible.

“We were in a position of strength. The mood was like: ‘we cannot concede a goal’, but this season, I know it's difficult.

“The level is different, we change system, we change a lot of things and me especially also, I'm not the most consistent player, so I have some ups and downs, because also the level is different.

“If you see just the back line, there is Kyle [Walker] and Martin [Dubravka], but there is no player with big, big experience in the Premier League and I think this is also important.

“We need time to improve, because I think you improve also as a centre-back with games, with experience, so I think we just have to work hard.

“I think this is the best way to found a good way at the end, a positive way for everyone. So we try to do that at training. We try to have some good advice by the gaffer, also the player, a good experience.

“But yeah, that's fact. We concede a lot of goals, sometimes stupid goals, sometimes they play well so we have to say: okay, well played’, but we can do better for sure.”

Liverpool game

“It will be tough, but we have to believe we are a competitor.

“We are footballers, so if you start a game where you think you will lose, there is no point to start, so we have to believe and finish the game with a positive result and I think we have the quality to do that.”

Two years at Burnley

“Honestly, it’s been amazing.

“I know we go down and we come up. I think we had 12 points when I joined on January 31, but I know why I came.

“Last season was one of the best memories of my life, the mood was unbelievable. The crowd was unbelievable. Like, all of the energy was unbelievable. One of the best memories I will keep in my life.

“This season, for sure, is different. But we know at the start of the season, this season will be difficult. We know that one million percent.

“We start this season very well. Honestly, we get some points, but then we struggle a bit during the 12 games. Honestly, that's fact.

“We lose some games, but of the 12 games we lost, I think, we did maybe some positive results. But otherwise that's fact, we lose, so we cannot change that.

“But also the confidence gets down and down and down and that's life. That's just the behaviour and that's normal. Because when you lose, you think: ‘we have to win, we have to win somewhere, we have to have a positive result. But that's not the case.

“So at the moment, the last two games was, for me, positive. With a draw with Man United and winning in the cup, so we needed that.

“I hope the good thing will come and I think all of the players know that and we give everything to do that.”

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Do the players still believe you can stay up?

“For sure. One million percent.

“There is, like, 17 games left, so that’s 51 points to take, so if you didn't believe in that, there is no point to continue the season. So we have one million percent to believe in us.

“I think we are a good team, honestly, and every game we play, we are not too far and for me, that's positive.

“I know there is more details and I think also play with experience. We are not far every game, so for me, the positive result will come. I believe in that.”

How different has it been playing in the middle of the back three?

“It's very different.

“It's my first time in my life I played this position, so every habit has to be different. So I have to work on that and to be, like, good as soon as possible.

“I think also it's good for my development to play in different positions. In the back line, I think after I can play in the back four on the left, back five on the left, and back five in the middle.

“Maybe back five on the right will be tough for me because of my right foot, but no, I think this is good also for my development so I'm happy.”

Do you still see a long-term future at Burnley?

For sure, one million percent. I'm very happy here.

“Like, sometimes it's tough because you have some bad results, but that's life. You cannot change that.

“I know I'm not having an unbelievable season, I know that. I have some good games, some bad games. But I have to improve as soon as possible.

“I know I am young, but I don't have the time in football, you know. I don't have the time, so honestly, I think this is the best club to improve for me as a young player.

“As a centre-back also, I spoke a lot with the gaffer, with Jacko [Mike Jackson], for example, so I'm still very, very happy here.”

Is Mike Jackson very hands on with the defenders?

“Yeah, because also he played in the defensive line when he used to play, so he has a lot of experience also. Maybe not in the Premier League, but he plays a lot of games. Also, some advice from Vincent Kompany because he played as a centre-back.

“We [Esteve and Jackson] speak a lot, we have some meetings together, so I think that's important to improve and to also take more responsibility to say: ‘okay Maxime, now you struggled, but now you did very well’ and I think this is very important. I think for development and to improve, that's a good way.”

What was it like wearing the captain’s armband against Millwall?

“That was good.

“Like, a lot of people are joking when I had the armband. They say: ‘Maxime, you're the captain’. But yeah, honestly, I was happy and proud. That's a good recognition for me. I was very happy.

“So I have to do the small speech before the game. It was a little bit of pressure for me, but no, honestly, everything did well, so I was very happy.”

How did the speech go?

“Yeah, it was okay.

“It was very, very, like, quick, but that's okay. I think everyone was in good energy, so I was happy, yeah.”

Steve nickname

“Yeah, they called me that straight away. But the first thing, I thought it wasn't positive. I thought maybe I had done something bad or this is negative, they say “ooh” or “noo”, maybe I’m very bad, I don’t know.

“But after I understand more, honestly, like, it's very cute. When I do some action, they give me energy, so I can feel that.

“Honestly, I'm still very happy with that. I think for me, this is also a part of love, because if they do that, I think they like me a bit. I’m happy with that.”

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