The kid from Nancy Neil El Aynaoui, trained in the Forest of Haye, had a great moment on Saturday evening against Nantes, scoring for the first time in his young career in Ligue 1. He says…
Comments collected by Romain JACQUOT – Today at 05:01 | updated today at 11:38
How refreshing and reassuring it is to still have, in this world of football business and oversized egos, a young player like Neil El Aynaoui! The kid from Nancy plays in a Champions League club now and he has just scored his first goal in L1 during the Lens-Nantes match (4-0) but, when we call him on the phone, he answers with all following the same simplicity and kindness as when he was first asked for an article, at the time when he was just a resident of the Hague Forest training center. The purpose of our phone call? Obviously he tells us about the first goal of his career in the elite of French football, first, before telling us more precisely how good he feels with the “Sang et Or”…
Can you tell us about this first goal in Ligue 1?
It’s a bit of an attacker’s goal, a surface fox, we’ll say. When I came on, it was already 3-0 for us. The coach told me to be in a good position in the middle but also not to hesitate to project myself forward. This is what I did on this action. I had a little success too, so much the better. It’s a pretty incredible feeling. I felt like time had stopped between my check and my shot for the goal.
Right afterward, did you see images of your journey to get there flash through your head?
In the locker room, yes, I thought about how far I’ve come to get here. If someone had told me that when I was playing in the ASNL youth teams… I also don’t forget that I was still playing to stay in the National with Nancy only a few months ago. Lucas Deaux also sent me a message to tell me that that’s the beauty of football, that it can go quickly in one direction or the other. This is why we must never relax, we must always do more.
Apart from this message from your former Nancy teammate Lucas Deaux, we imagine that your cell phone must have rang a lot after this goal…
I received a lot of congratulatory messages, which is nice. My friend Max Nonnenmacher, Prince Mendy, Martin Sourzac, Albert Cartier too… I can’t name everyone. Many people from Nancy thought of me. I always portray Nancy when I perform. I am 100% Lensois now but I still have ASNL at the bottom of my heart.
“Can’t wait to taste the Champions League”
Did you have family in the Bollaert stands on Saturday evening when you scored?
Yes, I scored in front of my mother and my grandparents. It was wonderful. My dad was also supposed to be there but unfortunately he couldn’t come for this match against Nantes.
You had already scored two goals the previous weekend with the Lens reserve…
It’s true. After the L1 match in Le Havre, coach Franck Haise sent a few players in reserve to get some playing time, I was one of them and it went well. I went there with a lot of desire and seriousness, it’s normal in my eyes. It’s important to show the coach that he can always count on you.
The next step for you is to play in the Champions League…
That’s what I hope! I was in the squad for the first three matches, in Seville, against Arsenal and against PSV but I didn’t come on. I can’t wait to taste the Champions League but I also know that I have to be patient . It will come when it has to come. In the meantime, I do my best to contribute something to the team whenever I have the chance to be on the pitch. I’m in a great club. There is a phenomenal audience and a family group, of high quality, which relies on enormous cohesion. All this helps me a lot.
A quick word on the ASNL season, to finish. What do you think ?
I watch all the matches as soon as I can. I was also in Picot for the Red Star reception. The team finds itself in a somewhat difficult situation but we have to put things into perspective. In this National Championship, you find yourself at the bottom of the ranking as soon as you lose two matches but you can just as quickly climb back up with two victories. I have the feeling that ASNL is not missing much. But you also have to be wary, in this championship, because I also had this impression last season. I hope there will be success on Friday against Sochaux. It’s a match that can allow Nancy to get back into a positive spiral.
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