He finally finds his level. Benjamin Bouchouari had a long slump in Forez, but the Moroccan is coming back very well. Started for the third time during the derby lost 1-0 this Sunday against Lyon, the ASSE number 6 was one of the best Saint-Etienne players in the match.
While the competition is strong in the middle in Forez, it is legitimate to wonder if he has earned a place in Olivier Dall'Oglio's eleven. The French technician also spoke about the injury of one of his executives.
Undeniable technical quality
It's no surprise to anyone, but Bouchouari is a very technical midfielder. Able to carry the ball and dribble, the Moroccan often makes a difference. The native of Borgerhout in Belgium is often the first to accelerate the Saint-Etienne game. Due to its small size and its supports, the latter is also very fast. He breaks lines and creates spaces for his teammates. A superb asset for the Greens!
“If you want to play, you defend”
It all started last October 26 for him. During the match against Angers, his coach decided to start him 5 months after his last appearance in the starting lineup during the last match of the Ligue 2 season against Quevilly-Rouen Métropole.
Since then Bouchouari has continued, and is decisive in recovering the ball. A defensive sector in which he was not used to shining, but that must please Dall'Oglio.
“Benjamin? He decided to defend! Benjamin, we know that offensively he is a boy who is interesting but who last season was not aware of that (the obligatory side of the defensive aspect in his game, editor's note). He knows it himself, he is able to say today that he did not want to defend before.”
“Now, if he wants to play, and he's known it for a long time, since I arrived it's like this: If you want to play, you defend. If you defend, you will play. If you don't defend you won't play not! That's all. He decided to first be an aggressive defensive midfielder who recovers balls, which doesn't prevent him from shining afterwards when he has to bring the ball up and distribute balls. its partners.”
Good complementarity in the middle
If the 22-year-old is so good lately, it is also thanks to his partners next to him. Pierre Ekwah defensive midfielder, allows him to play a little higher while being present when he has to defend. And Louis Mouton, who like him, gains playing time in addition to being comfortable on the restart.
The 3 men are very complementary to the delight of the former MHSC coach, who will perhaps register a significant reinforcement for the next transfer window.
“Some players were less good, particularly in midfield, others took over, I think that's a real team. For the moment they are complementary knowing that in the last match, Pierre Ekwah took on a slightly higher dimension too, boss, he recovered more balls in the duels so that also helps the other two to be better, all three together“.
Moueffek, Amougou now replacement
If Pierre Ekwah seems to have an indispensable role, the two men around him can sometimes be different. Amougou and Moueffek were preferred at the start of the season, but for three games the wheel has turned. It is Bouchouari and Mouton who are present at the kick-off. And this can perhaps explain the new face of ASSE since last weekend and the victory against Strasbourg.
The Greens are better in construction and more solid behind. There is no doubt that Benjamin Bouchouari has something to do with it. It is now time for the break, but he should regain his starting place after this. Next match against a competitor for maintenance: Montpellier who will come to the Chaudron on Saturday November 23 at 7 p.m.
A big fan of Saint-Étienne, I still thrill every time I talk about the 2013 Coupe de la Ligue title. Remember… ASSE-RENNES final, we play the eighteenth minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, receives the ball on the left, crosses with the outside of his foot, and finds Brandao who puts the ball in the back of the net with the left. 1-0 for the Greens, the score remains that way. Enough for me to remember it like it was yesterday.
