In difficulty since the start of the season, the Senegalese was one of the great architects of Marseille’s victory against Montpellier (4-1) on Sunday.
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For several weeks, Marseille supporters had lost patience. When we spoke to them about Iliman Ndiaye, the response burst out: “We have to send him back to Saint-Charles”, in reference to the Senegalese’s presentation video upon his arrival in Marseille last summer, partly filmed on the square in front of the Marseille station. Is this why Iliman Ndiaye launched his season with a significant delay, Sunday February 25? Still, during OM’s victory against Montpellier, the number 29 was decisive and omnipresent.
“Without getting excited, I think it was one of my best matches. I was just happy to participate”also recognized the player at the microphone of Prime Video at the end of the meeting, before adding: “The victory in the European Cup did us good, we try to keep this state of mind.” Another thing to keep for him: the memory of his exit, in the 81st minute, to the ovation of a Vélodrome stadium which appreciated his high-level performance.
The expected click
Author of the equalizing goal, but also at the origin of the 3-1 penalty, Iliman Ndiaye delivered his best performance under the Marseille tunic. Associated with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack, he took advantage of finally being aligned in his favorite position – in support of the attacker – to showcase his sense of percussion with the ball, but also his orientation of the game, all by not shying away from defensive efforts. At the heart of a dense Montpellier block, Iliman Ndiaye was Marseille’s poison.
Through his sense of placement and movement between the opposing lines, the Senegalese was the detonator of the Marseille game. Some figures demonstrate this: 100% successful dribbles, 94% successful passes, but also 8 ball recoveries and 69% of duels won. His successful performance is not limited to his goal, his third of the season and especially his first at the Stade Vélodrome, he who has never hidden his Olympic flame. His love of OM had also pushed him to refuse offers from Premier League clubs last summer, he who had already passed through the Marseille training center in 2011-2012, before leaving for Senegal.
If the French public did not know him, Iliman Ndiaye therefore signed a return home by choosing OM last summer, although he was from Rouen by birth. However, this beautiful story has long weighed on the shoulders of the player who, behind the scenes, admitted to having difficulty withstanding this pressure. Never exposed by the club in a press conference, and silent in the media, Iliman Ndiaye first wanted to respond on the pitch. Which took all the more time as under Gennaro Gattuso, dismissed on February 19, the Senegalese was more often aligned in the left lane than in his preferred position: the axis.
“In the selection, it’s the same, they use me on one side or in the center. It depends on the playing systems. Afterwards, it’s true that I have always liked playing in the center. But I am ready to do what I’m asked.”, tempered the player before leaving for the CAN in January, with Senegal. That day, he also prophesied: “I really think it can be good. Every time I come back from the national team, I feel a little more comfortable when I play.” Difficult to contradict him after his performance against Montpellier which, too, should do him a lot of good at the end of the OM season, still in the fight for European places.