For the second time in a row, Olivier Dall'Oglio placed his trust in Benjamin Bouchouari by starting him in midfield against Strasbourg. The performance of the Moroccan midfielder proved that this confidence was not stolen. Bouchouari indeed delivered a top performance and reshuffled the cards in midfield.
Last season, Bouchouari was not part of Dall'Oglio's plans, who had reservations about his defensive involvement and his investment without the ball. But this start of the season marks a renewal for the young Moroccan, who has been able to adapt his game and meet his coach's expectations. In Angers, for his first match as a starter, he had already convinced with his technical quality and his ability to dominate the midfield. Saturday, against Strasbourg, he confirmed these qualities and even raised his level of play.
Bouchouari: A player in recovery
On a technical level, the statistics speak for themselves: 29 successful passes out of 32 attempted, a success rate of more than 90%. Beyond the precision of his passes, Bouchouari stands out for his desire to play forward and energize the team's offensive play. Unlike many midfielders who opt for back or lateral safety passes, he consistently favors forward passes. Almost half of his passes were aimed at the opposition goal, and most of them were released from the Strasbourg camp. This is proof not only of his passing quality, but also of his ability to maintain precision under pressure.
The defensive sector, often criticized at Bouchouari, also showed notable progress. He recovered 8 balls and succeeded in his 2 attempted tackles, which demonstrates his willingness to get involved in the recovery work. This renewed aggressiveness and impact in the duels shows that he was able to meet the expectations of his coach, who asked for greater involvement in the defensive phases. His ability to anticipate and intervene properly in duels makes him a more complete midfielder, ready to contribute as much to the defensive effort as to the offensive animation.
A vision of the game and agility that make the difference
With his low center of gravity and agility, Bouchouari excels in tight spaces and often manages to get out of tricky situations with ease. His ability to change orientation quickly makes his movements difficult to read for his opponents, who struggle to stop him. In small spaces, he demonstrates above-average technique which allows him to retain the ball and release it at the right time. His playing intelligence also manifests itself in his sense of anticipation with the constant concern to position his body in such a way as to be able to turn forward as soon as he receives the ball.
Progress still to be made in finishing
However, to take a new step and become a truly decisive player, Bouchouari will have to work on his offensive contribution. Despite his ability to distribute and direct the game, he still lacks presence in the finishing zone, and his shot attempts are still too rare and too imprecise. If he succeeds in integrating this new aspect into his game, there is no doubt that he will establish himself as a central piece of Dall'Oglio's system.
In just two starts, Benjamin Bouchouari has demonstrated that he is ready to take on a more important role within the Saint-Etienne team. His performance against Strasbourg is not only reassuring; it suggests a potential which, if well exploited, could make him one of the essential elements of the ASSE midfield this season. However, Benjamin Bouchouari knows, the only danger will only come from himself and his ability not to relax during favorable sporting periods during which he has the fault of settling into guilty comfort.
