His presence alone is not enough to explain the convincing success of En Avant Guingamp in Annecy on Friday (4-1), but it necessarily has something to do with it. Injured in the thigh since the end of last season (April), before returning at the beginning of September for three matches then relapsing, Donatien Gomis has had a very complicated last eight months. In his absence, Sylvain Ripoll adapted but the absence of the Senegalese was often felt.
A little more security
In Annecy, Friday, the former Concarnois found a starting place in the central hinge and his contribution quickly stood out. “He has this ability to provide you with security in the management of depth through the power of his runs and the physical impact he puts in his duels, whether aerial or on the ground,” explains his coach. We are happy to find him at this level. It’s a plus for the team. »
It always feels good to come back after such a long time without playing
This was obvious at the Annecy Sports Park where his team limited the spaces between the lines as much as possible with a block positioned a little lower. “We adapt to the qualities of our defenders,” said Ripoll. Donatien has this power in regaining space when the balls are put behind him. It perhaps allows us to have a little more security while playing higher. »
A form of recruit
Gomis’ profile changes the team, in a way, and the challenge now is to see the 30-year-old perform over time, far from the infirmary. His feelings, for the moment, are in any case encouraging. “It always feels good to come back after such a long time without playing,” he admits. It was a little tough at the end, with the difficult terrain, but overall I felt good. There wasn’t too much apprehension. I tried to take the match without pressure. In my head, I was rather calm. »
A valuable return for En Avant Guingamp, which also sees in him, potentially, “its best recruit” in an extremely calm winter transfer window.
