Europa League Conference – After PAOK – OM – Mandanda, back in favor: “When he’s like that, he’s fantastic” – Eurosport FR

The scene was captured by Canal+ cameras, when Samir Nasri came to meet Jorge Sampaoli during training in Marseille. When greeting his former teammate, Steve Mandanda summed up his situation with a smile: “He doesn’t want me to play him,” he confided, pointing to his coach. Response from the Argentinian: “I’m the one teaching him to play football”. Zlatan’s twilight: “His physique is starting to tell him to stop” Europa League Conference OM against Feyenoord, Roma-Leicester: the last four of the C4AN HOUR AGOAt that time, Steve Mandanda was still a certain number two, “El Pelado” having installed Pau Lopez in Ligue 1. What now? The legendary Marseille goalkeeper pulled off a memorable performance this Thursday evening when OM won against PAOK Salonika (1-0) in the Europa League Conference. Three days before the shock against Paris Saint-Germain … Mandanda let the storm pass Started for the third time in a row – a first this season – after Sampaoli wanted to maintain the dynamics of the 37-year-old goalkeeper for this quarter of final return, Mandanda became himself again. When the Greeks pushed, on the impetus given by a stadium in fusion, “Il Fenomeno” did what he knew how to do long before the arrival of Sampaoli at OM. Quickly on the ground to divert an attempt by Akpom (10th), attentive to catch up with a headline the big blunder of his defense on the following corner, the captain prevented the Marseille boat from pitching and let the storm pass. Cholismo can only be understood by Atlético fans”The follow-up was no less impressive, as the Olympian goalkeeper made five saves in all, a total he hadn’t reached without conceding a goal since three and a half years. “Steve is used to this kind of matches”, observed Mattéo Guendouzi on W9. The goalkeeper played his 99th match in European competition. “With him, we were very calm, added the midfielder. When I saw his first saves, I knew that none of their attempts would score. When he’s like that, he’s fantastic. He’s the man of the match.” Holder at the Park? Brilliant in his surface, Steve Mandanda also and above all managed his best performance in the kicking game. Very accurate in his choices at short distance, he also knew how to find his attacking partners when he lacked solutions in front of him. With the exception of a mid-distance transmission blocked (30th) which could have been dangerous, the tricolor international has shown that he can bring just as much as his direct competitor. And, perhaps, sowed doubt in the mind of Sampaoli.”Nagelsmann is the main person responsible for the elimination of Bayern”Because now, starting Pau Lopez again in a match as important as the one that awaits the Marseillais on Sunday, at the Park, would be a huge risk. Especially since the last outings of the Spaniard were less convincing. At 37, Mandanda demonstrates that it is never too late to evolve. And (re)learn football. Ligue 1 Heavy and… regrets? The eleven types of active players trained at PSG8 HOURS AGOLigue 1What if PSG finally relied on its training center?9 HOURS AGO