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OM: why Sampaoli was right to play Pau Lopez – Season

Saturday, while OM gave a demonstration on the Monaco lawn (2-0), the two attractions of the evening were obviously the young Bamba Dieng for his two goals and his XXL performance, but also Amine Harit, surprise holder and author of a very high class match. However, the initial surprise of this meeting was in the goals, since Jorge Sampaoli decided to start Pau lopez to everyone’s surprise. A surprise shared by a Steve Mandanda who did not expect it, given his convincing start to the season, but especially his status as a living legend of the club. However, the Argentine technician did not act on a whim, on the contrary.

“We finally realize the capital importance of goalkeepers. Without a great goalkeeper, we will not go to the end”

Recruited at the end of the transfer window from Roma, Pau Lopez was entitled to a long recovery following a shoulder injury. We knew him to be operational again in training, but it is true that his presence in the eleven in Monaco surprised observers. “We know Mandanda is a legend at the club, we know how good we feel about him, Sampaoli explained at the end of the meeting. What we want is a rotation with these two goalkeepers and we need all the players to have playing time. There are a lot of games. Putting Pau this evening is not a surprise for us, we knew very well that he was going to answer present. “ A very clear way of announcing a real competition between the two numbers one, even if this post was not really used to that until recently. “The first observation is that we are finally becoming aware of the capital importance of goalkeepers, Explain Michel Troin, former coach of the Stade Rennais goalkeepers. In all team sports such as football, but also handball and hockey, they are the ones who make the difference, especially in big matches. We saw it with Barthez in 98, Lloris at the last World Cup, or Donnaruma this summer with Italy. I also think of Edouard Mendy with Chelsea last season. Without a great goalkeeper, we won’t go to the end, remember Liverpool three years ago in the Champions League final with poor Karius “.

“Managing their playing time will ensure that they will always be in their optimal shape. If there is one that shows the slightest sign of wear, the other will take its place.”

Anyway, if many coaches continue to have a well-established hierarchy, this is not at all the case for Jorge Sampaoli who does not hesitate to debunk statues when he arrives in a club. This was the case with legendary Santos Wanderlei, or Victor at Atlético Mineiro, both put in competition (and on the bench) by the Argentine for the past two years. “To have a successful goalkeeper over a long season, he must not be worn out, explains Michel Troin. It takes physical management, but also mental management, because the position requires immense concentration. This is why the big clubs have been betting for a few years on a real competition with two goalkeepers of very high level. We talk about the danger at PSG with the competition between Navas and Donnaruma, but it is perhaps the detail that will make them go to the end. It’s the same in Marseille, because we are talking about competition, but I am talking about emulation. Managing their playing time will keep them in peak shape. If there is one that shows the slightest sign of wear, the other will take its place. So there is no hole and it is essential for me “. And too bad if Mandanda did not appreciate Saturday too much, as explained The team. A legitimate disappointment at the time given his status and his level, but which should not degenerate according to Michel Troin: “Mandanda can be surprised or disappointed, but you have to know that the goalkeepers are a group within the group. Their solidarity is not a legend, there is a real state of mind. Sampaoli is right to play Pau Lopez, because when he needs it in a decisive match, he will need the confidence and the confidence of his partners to perform well “. Difficult to say if it was Saturday, so much the Marseillais walked in Monaco, but the competition has only just begun, it is a certainty.

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