Arnaud Bodart played again for Standard: “I will always be there for the club that I love”

What to remember from Standard – Cercle Bruges (1-0)

Epolo on the bench, Bodart on goal, but the eldest was quite clever when, during the lap of honor, he highlighted his younger brother, while, in the Ultras stand, the songs to celebrate the return of Bodart were followed by chants in support of Epolo. Ivan Leko, after the match, confirmed, between the lines, that the Red Devil was going to stay on goal for the immediate future when he said, about the Imp, “we will work with him to schedule a restart, time to relieve him of the pressure”.

A few minutes before, the Croatian coach had not appreciated being asked the first question of the press conference on Bodart’s performance, wanting to highlight his team first, then his individuals. But he praised the behavior of his evening holder, who could no longer train daily with the group, but who kept a serious attitude. “When I asked him if he was ready, he said he is always ready. He brought his serenity and calm to the team, with two important saves.” One in front of Miangue, at the cost of a ball received in the face; another in front of Denkey. His aerial play, too, was reassuring, allowing Standard to finish its first match without conceding since a draw (0-0) against Union on September 20.

Questioned by the Pro League after the match, Bodart soberly commented on his performance: “It feels good, and it’s nice, because I missed it. Returning to the stadium, returning to the pitch, the support of the supporters, who have always been there to support me since my debut. But I am especially proud of the team’s victory, I especially want to highlight the collective, more than me.”

Standard: the goalkeeper debate is relaunched

The goalkeeper was careful not to dwell on the past weeks and months, when he must have been in the shadows, with no real prospect for the future while he is in the last year of his contract. His fatherhood, since April, has helped him put things into perspective and he has often repeated to those close to him that the situation he experienced will be useful to him later. He still slipped: “When I’m needed, I’ll always be there for the club I love.” At the end of his warm-up, he had already kissed the club crest when he greeted the supporters, before joining the locker room.

Bodart, a child of the club, is attached to Standard, but he knows that his future will not necessarily be written with Rouches. In the immediate future, he will therefore concentrate on the future, until the end of the calendar year and while waiting for the winter transfer window, even if he assures that he is not planning too much, as when it was a question of this return to the goal. He only had confirmation of his tenure this Saturday morning, even if he had a clue the day before, during the last opposition. But Bodart no longer wants to anticipate, or very little, even if he should have, with the few matches to come, an opportunity to remember everyone well.

The supporters will still be waiting for him when he leaves Sclessin, no doubt. And he hopes to keep smiling as long as possible, now that he is back in the light.