After starting the season at La Gantoise, the striker returned to his training club on August 30. For a gradual rise in power: lined up in reserve on October 19, he shone during the first of his six starts four days later at Atletico.
They are Belgian, they shine with Lille but they are not Red Devils: the cases of Mukau and Fernandez-Pardo call out
“He is very appreciated in the group. You know, the players are not fooled by the quality of each other and know very quickly how to identify that a player has potential and that he can bring to the team”explained Bruno Genesio, a technician known for bringing youngsters to life but also capable of tactical moves to remind us that his little nickname, Pep, was not just ironic. Mukau was able to see it: he who had never played as an attacking midfielder shone in this position in Bologna with a double in the Champions League.
Used a step lower alongside captain Benjamin André with competition from another prodigy, Ayyoub Bouaddi (seventeen years old), the former Malinois was able to take advantage of the void left by Nabil Bentaleb to settle into the Lille eleven after an ankle injury in September.
El Khannouss is gaining strength
Unlike Wout Faes, Bilal El Khannouss is one of the winners from the replacement of Steve Cooper by Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Established for the Dutchman’s first, the attacking midfielder signed his benchmark match against West Ham on December 3 with a goal and an assist. In a team that is struggling, the Moroccan is one of the rare recruits to show off, he who nevertheless had to digest the weight of his transfer but also this third place at the Olympics with Morocco. And he appreciates being able to evolve under the orders of the former striker: “he worked with players I know; So, I knew what to expect, he explained to the BBC. When a manager like him comes in, you listen, he was a legend.” Whom he trusts.
Patient Ilenikhena
Two goals in preparation against Feyenoord and Genoa, then that of the victory against FC Barcelona in the Champions League twelve minutes after coming into play: Georges Ilenikhena struck hard for his debut. But AS Monaco’s biggest summer recruit (eighteen million) has often seen Breel Embolo or Folarin Balogun preferred in a single-point system. And if the American was injured in October, Monaco intends to recruit for this position.
From Antwerp to the savior of Monaco against FC Barcelona: George Ilenikhena changes the galaxy by erasing Kylian Mbappé from the shelves
Without the former Antwerp resident (eighteen years old), in the midst of his apprenticeship, taking umbrage. “There is one thing: age and the other is performance.differentiated in L’Équipe his trainer Adi Hütter. He started like a rocket by scoring against Barcelona. He has shown that he is capable of being a goalscorer in the future but it takes time. For me, his progress is a little blocked but it’s a normal development for a young player.”
With Ohio, there is always a but…
Four goals, already, in half a season for a striker who had only scored six times in a season and a half at Standard: failing to find some playing time again, Noah Ohio has shown efficiency since he joined Utrecht, surprising third in the Eredivisie. Alongside Anthony Descotte, in competition with David Min and Ole Romeny, the Dutchman unfortunately ended 2024 with an ankle ligament injury. “And that’s really a problem.”regretted his trainer, a certain Ron Jans. A proof of his confidence.
