Anthony Mandréa is about to discover the Ligue 2 championship at 25 with the SM Caen in the shoes of number 1 goalkeeper. After a very early first in Nice in 2013, a title of best National goalkeeper in Cholet (2021) and an end to the season as a starter in Angers, Anthony Mandréa is eager to take up the gauntlet with his new club.
Goalkeeper like his dad
“I’ve been playing football since I was five or six years old. It was time to start the sport. I asked my father: ‘what are you doing?’ football. I told him that I wanted to do like him. I followed the paternal ties a little bit. When he was young, he was a striker. Afterwards, he had heart problems and switched to goalkeeper.
I started in Pegomas (Alpes-Maritimes). I did like my father and I chose to be a goalkeeper. Since football school, I have done all my categories as a goalkeeper. I never changed.”
A first selection last June with Algeria
“From the moment I started playing with SCO Angers at the beginning of April, the media did their part of the job. I had the chance to play good matches. Behind, I received a blow of the Federation who asked me if I would like it. Of course, I answered yes because it was a source of pride to be able to wear this jersey and these colors. We started the process for the passport and the double- nationality Like everyone else, I waited for the list to come out and I was very happy when it came out.
This is the icing on the cake. I had the chance to play in the French elite and then behind I was able to defend the colors of a country. Today, I do not take my head. I will try to take it step by step and do everything to necessarily return. When you’ve tasted it, you don’t want to miss the next selections. Anyway, it’s the matches that will determine whether I’ll go back or not.
Number One at SM Caen at 25
“You have to be very patient. This is my first experience as number one in the Pro world. In the amateur world, I was in Cholet (National). I think 25 is the age when the “We really begin for goalkeepers to find maturity. Afterwards, around 28-29 years old, we are at the height of our maturity. Around 25 years old, this is the time when you have to start playing if you want to have a career holder or whether we want to be a substitute.”
His skills: strong on his line
“I think I’m a dynamic goalkeeper on my line, very reactive and quite explosive. I don’t hesitate to go outside my area. I still have a lot of points to correct. I’m going to learn, I’m going to use these points to exploit to increase my level and be even stronger to be able to help Stade Malherbe.”
A goalkeeper who likes to be heard on the field
“I’m someone who talks a lot moreover, it can be heard in my voice. I still have the fallout from Saturday (the last preparation match, 48 hours earlier, against Versailles). I control the whole match, from start to finish. I try to be as present as possible. I try through that to give confidence to my defenders, to show them that I am there, that I am present with them and that I will try to make up for their mistakes as much as possible. I hope they won’t make any (smile) but behind I will be there to catch them. I know two basic defenders, I played with Romain Thomas and Ibrahim Cissé. I I have more developed ties than with others, but the preparation helped us get to know each other. Today we are ready, we have the ties to face the other teams.”