in Lyon, Malick Fofana better than a replacement

Often decisive when he comes into play, Lyon’s Belgian striker Malick Fofana, author of a double and an assist Thursday in the Europa League in Glasgow against Rangers (4-1), aspires to move from the status of «supersub» as the essential starter in OL’s starting lineup. “We will have to continue to alternate between our two statuses depending on the opponents and our availability. He sent a very strong signal by showing that it is possible to get him started and perform well straight away.”underlined coach Pierre Sage on Friday at a press conference.

His performance in Scotland could also encourage the Rhone technician to line him up a second time in a row from the start on Sunday at home against Nantes (3:00 p.m.) for the 7th day of Ligue 1. At only 19 years old and after nine selections with the Diablotins, the Belgian Espoirs, his last matches have already earned Fofana a first call-up with the Belgium A team to face Italy in Rome on October 10 then France, on October 14 in Brussels, in the League of Nations. “We are very happy with his selection, it’s a great reward for him. It’s good to be called up, but the next step is to play and stay there. We will help him in this sense”Sage rejoiced.

Pocket player (1.69 m), lively, fast, confusing, good dribbler, Fofana “play the game”notes Pierre Sage, thus evoking “an essential quality” et “a fairly complete player comfortable in different times of play. When he has to cross, he crosses, when he has to shoot, he shoots. When you respect the game, the game respects you in return and so do the partners”underlined the technician, noting “that he knew how to create situations for himself both in placed and rapid attacks”.

He is a player who has a very high level in his software.

Pierre Sage

In addition to his two goals against Rangers on Thursday evening, Fofana was the decisive scorer last weekend for the victory in Toulouse at the end of added time (2-1) after replacing the very disappointing Wilfried Zaha. He also assisted on Gift Orban’s goal which gave Lyon the victory against Strasbourg (4-3, 3rd day), on August 30, again after entering when OL were trailing 3-1. “He is a player who has a very high level in his software”believes Pierre Sage. “The next step will be to start the matches and maintain your level of performance. From the moment he continues and we make the same observations as we do when he comes off the bench, we will be able to say that it is a given. Let him continue to play matches and I think he will have a very bright future.”predicted the Lyon coach.

Arrived in January for 19.5 million euros from the Belgian club La Gantoise – while his market value did not exceed 8 million according to the reference website Transfermarkt.fr -, the player of Guinean origin is probably at Currently the best offensive recruit for Olympique Lyonnais in recent months. During his first semester in Lyon, the player, under contract until June 2028, scored four goals and offered an assist in 21 matches in which he participated. This season, he has one goal and one assist in the league and two goals and one assist in the European Cup. And despite the high amount of his transfer, he seems the only player in the Rhone squad on whom OL could make a short-term capital gain. And suitors should not fail to quickly introduce themselves to him and the Rhone club.

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