Matthieu Epolo is likely to lose his starting place this weekend against Cercle de Bruges. A decision that has seemed inevitable for several weeks now.
The Sword of Damocles Matthew Epolo had a name: her name was Arnaud Bodart. And through recurring errors, the young Standard goalkeeper may well have himself cut the thread that prevented this sword from falling, implacably, to put his predecessor back between the poles.
This will probably be confirmed this Friday by Ivan Leko at a press conference: barring any surprises, Arnaud Bodart will return to the group for the match this weekend, and the sources combine to affirm that he will start the match against Cercle from Bruges.
Is the timing ideal? Yes and no. Standard found itself in a complicated situation: impossible to put Matthieu Epolo on the bench as long as he was performing… but also very cruel to put him on the bench at the first inevitable mistake. Moreover, Leko did not seize the first opportunity that came: remember that Epolo had already suffered a loss during the Clasico, last October 6, and was then supported by an entire club.
Leaving Epolo as the holder would not be doing him any favors
The third solution, therefore, was to wait: if he recovered from his first little mistake, the kid would then prove his mentality, and was cut out to become number 1. For an U21 international already estimated at 3 million euros, this meant a rapidly increasing market value, and perhaps a future transfer which would make us forget the aborted one of Arnaud Bodart.
Unfortunately for Epolo and the club, the mistakes continued. Certainly, interspersed with dazzling saves – but for the high level, cat-like reflexes are not enough: you have to reassure, in the air, on the feet, in reading the game. How many goalkeepers from lower divisions or weaker championships are capable of making high-flying “reflex” saves? A lot. The difference lies elsewhere.
This difference, Arnaud Bodart, if he is less impressive on his line than Matthieu Epolo, has already made it in the past. No, Bodart is not the best goalkeeper in Belgium; yes, Standard is perhaps its ceiling – while an Epolo managing to erase its still too significant faults could, paradoxically, go higher. But with Arnaud Bodart, Leko knows what he has in his hands: a calm goalkeeper, not prone to blunders, and who will reassure an entire stadium.
“But all the same, Epolo is only 19 years old: a little patience!”, we are told. It was Standard that should have said that last summer: it was Standard that placed itself in this situation, by refusing to let Bodart return to the core after his desires elsewhere. Perhaps Epolo needed more time, because at SL 16, he was far from impeccable, and the flaws were bound to show eventually.
And now ? Bodart, even if he returns to form, will not have seen his value increase during these months on the bench. No one will have gained much… except, perhaps, Epolo, who will have had his moments of glory… but will have a hard time being number 2 again. However, Ivan Leko doesn’t really have a choice: leaving Matthieu Epolo would be taking an almost suicidal gamble. A new error would be unjustifiable…
