What if that was the solution? Take a small step aside, to better start moving forward, act out of alignment to get back on the right path. It’s impossible not to think, on this Tuesday evening, that the questions which accompany the start of Randal Kolo Muani’s season may have found part of their answer at the feet of the Acropolis.
Shifted to the left flank in the absence of Kylian Mbappé having expressed some doubts about his ability to start the match, the number 12 of the Blues certainly did not prevent the French team from scaring themselves in five minutes and to concede its first points in this qualifying phase for Euro 2024 against Greece. But in this autumn with rather dull overtones on an individual level, the PSG striker has finally seen a brightening.
“I score therefore I am”, failing to have released the performance of the year, “RKM” took advantage of its visit to the city of Greek philosophers to remind those who were misled by its start to the season that he could be trigger-happy.
Deschamps had come to his rescue
The weight of the price of his transfer to Paris (80 million euros + 5 million euros bonus) and his difficulties in finding his place at the forefront of an attack where he still appears on the defensive were indeed beginning to take their toll. cast doubt in the minds of some about his ability to digest his change in status this summer.
To the point that on Monday, at a press conference, the coach even came to his rescue in the face of questions from journalists. “He is fine, he is smiling,” assured Didier Deschamps before returning to the question. Minus of course the terrain? It was you who said it ! He can do better. Yes, of course I talk to him. We must not forget what he has been going through for a year. The context and the requirements are higher, but he has the qualities. He is less successful, but he is a young player who has steps to take, and he still has his serenity. »
A goal that will do him a lot of good
A serenity that was not immediately obvious Tuesday evening on the lawn of the OPAP Arena. On the left flank usually assigned to Kylian Mbappé, Kolo Muani actually suffered in the face of the energy deployed by right side Panagiotis Retsos. But as if he should have been rewarded for his repeated defensive runs and the efforts he never stopped making, the former Frankfurt player did not miss the boat when, exiled on the right side , he propelled Giroud’s deflection under the bar of Vlachodimos (42nd).
A missile which made the French sidelines take off with joy and earned a few words of encouragement from the Blues’ chief goleador, Olivier Giroud, who came to whisper a few words in his ear.
Replaced shortly after the hour mark by Kylian Mbappé (64th), Randal Kolo Muani (24) will not have had another opportunity to highlight himself during his 13th selection. But he was able to leave the pitch of AEK Athens, telling himself that the end of the year in blue is definitely his, he who had scored his first goal for the selection last December in the semi-final of the World Cup against the Morocco.
A goal which carried him towards a thunderous second part of the season with Frankfurt. Paris will perhaps see on Friday evening, during the return to L 1 against Monaco, if the one registered this Tuesday in Athens can have the same virtues.
