“I tried it a lot, people often laughed at me … It’s good when it succeeds, it’s good especially for the team. I lift the ball, I don’t have too many solutions, I see it advanced (the Metz keeper, Alexandre Oukidja), I try it and I have the chance that it goes to the bottom … “
At the microphone of Prime Video at the break of Metz-Saint-Étienne (1-1) this Saturday afternoon, these were the first words of Wahbi Khazri, the Tunisian striker of the Greens, 30, about the historic goal which he registered at the Saint-Symphorien stadium in Metz, after a quarter of an hour of play.
“History” is not too strong, since with a triggered strike from 68m, Khazri is now the author of the most distant goal ever scored in Ligue 1, at least since the data is collected, that is – that is, during the 2006-2007 season. The number 10 Stéphanois thus erased the mark of David Hellebuyck, author of a goal of 66.2 m in favor of Nice against Caen in May 2008. Saber Khalifa, another Tunisian, now appears in 3rd place, with the goal scored 64.3m with Evian TG against Nice in May 2013.
Khazri-Hellebuyck-Khalifa, here is for the very closed club of more than 60 m. Then follow the long-distance scorers Nabil Fekir (OL) with 53.5 m, Ronny Rodelin (Bordeaux) with 52 m, Memphis Depay (OL) with 50.6 m and a number of other fireworks with dynamite in his feet.
“The best goal of my career? Yes, I think … ”declared the Tunisian international, scorer of 22 goals in 63 caps, after the match. The most important thing is to get back to the score because it rewards all the work of the team. Once again, we are not rewarded but the team was united until the end, did not give up. We had a great technical mastery and now we have to take points to move up the standings. We want to climb the standings, the team is making a lot of effort. If we continue in this spirit, we will be rewarded. “
“He’s someone who works a lot”
Ryad Boudebouz, his midfielder partner, admired Khazri’s prowess: “Since the time he tried this one and he succeeded from 68 m, it’s magnificent. And, above all, it helps the team to get back into the game because we had taken a goal against the tide, as has happened to us lately. He’s someone who works a lot and deserves what happens to him. And, for the team, it allows us not to give up. ”
With 7 of the 12 goals scored by the Greens in twelve days, Khazri, provisional 2nd in the scorers standings, asserts himself a little more as the best Stéphanois. Born in Ajaccio, Khazri, passed through Bastia, Bordeaux and Sunderland, was on loan to Rennes when he put his bags down in Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2018. After two generally successful seasons, he was however placed on the unwanted list by Claude Puel at the start of last season, due to the state of the club’s finances.
However, despite contacts at Turkish runners-up Trabzonspor, the club failed to sell him. Also, Khazri has gradually returned to the group last season, to the delight of managers, coach and supporters. This year, he has not missed a single game and has already scored as many goals in 12 games as in the whole of last season.
In Saint-Étienne, it is certainly through the Tunisian, among other executives, that salvation will pass. Currently 20th, the emblematic club of the 70s and 80s, start from afar but, as he demonstrated, the distance does not frighten Khazri.
