Trained at Olympique Lyonnais, Yassine Benzia is preparing to return to his training club this Thursday (6:45 p.m.) as part of the fifth day of the Europa League. Now a player for FK Qarabag, in Azerbaijan, the Algerian international (13 caps, 4 goals) spoke with emotion and ambition before this particular meeting.
During the pre-match press conference, Benzia did not hide his impatience: “I’m very happy to be here, very happy to play tomorrow against Lyon. I hope it’s going to be a good match. Personally, obviously, as I come from Lyon, it’s a special match for me. But now, as a Qarabag player, I will do my best to win this very important match for us. »
Benzia’s history with OL dates back to 2010, when he joined the Rhone club’s Academy. Promised for a great future and sometimes compared to Karim Benzema, he made his professional debut on May 20, 2012 at just 17 years old. However, he failed to establish himself sustainably in Lyon (54 matches, 6 goals) before leaving for Lille in 2015.
An atypical journey and a revival in Azerbaijan
After mixed experiences in Lille, Turkey, Greece and France with Dijon, Benzia had to overcome a serious left hand injury in 2021, which almost ended his career. In January 2023, he joined Qarabag to relaunch his career. A successful bet, in his own words: “I feel really fulfilled every day. And on the field, the coach gives me a freedom that I have rarely been given in my career, and it pays off. That’s why on the field, I am fulfilled, I am decisive and I hope to continue like this until the end I’m here.”
Living in Baku with his family, Benzia also appreciates the stability and family values of his club. With Qarabag, he participated in a demanding season, punctuated by nearly 50 to 60 matches including championship, National Cup and European competitions.
A reunion and a look at the current OL
For Benzia, this match will also be an opportunity to reunite with former teammates like Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, but also to measure the evolution of his training club. Asked about the differences between OL today and those of his time, he notes: “There is a big difference between the OL I knew and the one today,” he said. It’s been over ten years since I’ve been there. They also changed president. They changed a lot of things a little bit. So there is a big difference. I mean the team I played with was better before. But they have a superb team even today. »
DZfoot
Morocco
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