It’s Bamba against Ibra
! Offensive engine Little, Jonathan Bamba will be one of the main northern assets to create a surprise Thursday (9 p.m.) in Connect Europe on the pitch of the unstoppable AC Milan and its superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The challenge is big. Facing the Mastiffs, and their series of three draws in all competitions, stands the first of group H and undefeated leader of A league. In addition to the Swedish giant, author of eight goals in seven matches, the Rossoneri rely on their defense, with the hinge Alessio Romagnoli-Simon Kjaer.
To find the fault, the Losc, forced to draw (2-2) at home by Celtic Glasgow for its last European release, will need dynamism and efficiency. Two qualities that Bamba has rediscovered this season, he who was completely out of the way during the last exercise.
Author of a superb goal on Sunday against Lyon (1-1), his fourth in League 1, the 24-year-old Frenchman, already far exceeds his total from last season (one goal). A record to which he adds four assists, making him the second most decisive player in the championship behind Kylian Mbappé.
A surprising return for him who often missed the last gesture. But rather than seeking to be transferred, he insisted on continuing the adventure, convinced that he would manage to get out of his negative spiral. Bet so far won.
Essential
I was out of the question for me to go, I am a competitor and I had things to prove, especially to myself. Last season was not up to my expectations, I went to see the coach and I wanted to restore the confidence he had given me
Bamba said last month. I haven’t changed anything in the way I work, I always had the same mentality and the support of everyone. Today it pays, it’s the reward for the shadow job I do every day
, he added.
Jonathan Bamba’s performances go beyond his efficiency in the last gesture. Compared to last year, he manages more dribbles, makes three times more tackles per game and more than 20 additional assists. What make it essential on the left wing. Holder in all matches this season, he is the second most sought after Lille field player, behind the Dutch central defender Sven Botman.
He is very often on the lawn and if he is, it is because he is important for the collective, for the balance of the team. In addition, he finds the success he had known two seasons ago
, praised Lille coach Christophe Galtier after the match against Lyon.
Galtier had maintained his confidence in him by virtue of the defensive work he was doing. Now he sees him being good with and without the ball. And he hopes for the same fate for Jonathan David. The young Canadian striker, who arrived at Lille at a gold price this summer, is facing the same blockage as Bamba last year: he is stepping up his efforts but cannot score.
In Milan, the two men should be associated on the field in a rotating team, calendar requires. Now is the time to prove themselves in a distance opposition to a benchmark among global attackers: the ogre Zlatan Ibrahimovic, stainless despite his 39 years.
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