Girondins de Bordeaux. M’Baye Niang, un retour en forme à point nommé ?
Reading the final score (6-1) and the classification (19th four points from 17th), but also the Bordeaux production at Groupama Stadium, the statement could be surprising. The striker assumed it on Friday: “I see how we work, the efforts we make. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m still convinced that this band will pull through. Now it needs to be cleaned in the field. I am aware that there is urgency, but I am not more worried than that. »
unifier
This insurance helps to make Niang one of the leaders of the group, now that Benoît Costil is relegated to the bench, Laurent Koscielny outside the workforce and Marcelo injured. “I feel a boy who has a great desire to leave the Girondins in Ligue 1, underlines David Guion. He is totally turned towards the collective and this maintenance operation. He is able to bring people along because he is a unifier. »
This Wednesday evening, against Saint-Étienne, the 27-year-old player should chain a third tenure, he who had only experienced one in L1 until then, an ordeal in Rennes (6-0). Less chosen by Vladimir Petkovic than by management, he had mainly cited the sidelines with the Swiss. The episode of his birthday in December had avoided the Covid cluster and had earned him some internal reprimands, but no deviation in behavior was to be reported despite his frustration and his big character.
“Very good signs”
Today, he is taking advantage of Albert Elis’ injury and Hwang’s poor form (then suspension), but also of a physical condition finally at the level, he who had arrived after a season without playing or almost, with a few extra pounds and no rhythm. “I wasn’t ready. It was very complicated. There was a process to get me back in shape. Today, I feel much better in the repetition of the efforts, ”assures the former Rennais.
He will have had to wait for spring all the same… “I even thought it would take longer”, smiles Niang, who now feels “very good” to attack “the most important period of the season because the group needs fresh players who can carry the team”. David Guion confirms: “For the past month, he’s been giving me good signals in training. »