While Ivan Leko’s attack was strengthened in the final hours of the transfer window by the arrivals of Denis Eckert – not yet available – and Andi Zeqiri, the Moroccan international kept the confidence of the Croatian technician, in Dender (0-2), in a two-headed attack which suits him better.
Marc Wilmots, on the set of La Tribune, had this explanation two weeks ago: “In a dominant team, he can finish the actions, he is a real surface attacker, you should not leave him two meters. In Genk, in a complicated match, he only had one chance, he put it in (Editor’s note: the goal was ultimately disallowed). This is proof that he has something.”
Lessons from Standard’s two-headed attack
The former Belgium coach knows Benjdida well, having coached him at Raja Casablanca. He took him out of the reserves at the age of 20 to give him a chance in the first team. The collaboration only lasted a few games, but at the end of the season (and 8 goals scored), the striker was voted best young player and began to make a name for himself in a country where football can attract up to 80,000 people to a stadium.
In Morocco, he has a small reputation, which contrasts with his discretion.
But uncertainty is never far away and Raja’s worries, combined with Standard’s interest in getting him at a reasonable price, had made him a recruitment lead at the start of last season, for SL16 FC first, then the A team. Quickly, at the end of the first international break that he had used to integrate youngsters, Carl Hoefkens wanted to keep him in the professional core. But Benjdida had to finally stay with SL16, to save what could be saved, namely staying in the Challenger Pro League. In vain, and in front of a very meager attendance.
Arriving alone in Belgium, not speaking French, which did not help him in his integration, Benjdida was an enigma… but a star in his country, if we are to believe the comments after the winter training camp of the Espoirs liégeois in Morocco. At the hotel where they are staying, the young Rouches regularly see fans push open the front door to see the Moroccan international espoir. He is there, discreet, hard-working, but not decisive enough, therefore, since he finished the season with six goals. But when Ivan Leko called him up with the A team to finish last season, he had taken the time to score a goal in Mechelen.
It was for nothing, and to soften a new defeat (3-2), but it was enough for the staff to give him a chance, for real. Last summer, when he was pre-selected with Morocco for the Olympic tournament, he also obtained to be left at the disposal of Standard, to perfect his preparation, lose a few kilos and work on the tactical plan.
He now speaks French, which has helped his development.
Because Benjdida, who is taking French lessons, which he now speaks, wanted to believe in his luck to convince that he could have his place. Not alone, therefore, at the forefront of the attack, but rather in a duo. Alone, he often ran without landmarks, leaving the impression of being lost with calls against type. He illustrated an attack in difficulty and was inevitably the target of criticism.
Sacrificed in Kortrijk after Lawrence’s exclusion, a substitute before that, he never gave up, not worried about the idea of seeing competition arrive in the area. Among the Espoirs, he was taken as an example, it is said, for his seriousness. He came to training by bike, sometimes took his days off to work in the gym before being sent home to rest.
It is not certain that Benjdida will remain the most decisive player at Standard, but it seems certain that he will be the one who drops out as late as possible. Last season, when things were not going well for him, he never wanted to hear about a transfer.
