“It’s hard to dream better.” Big smile on his face, Cédric Bakambu did not expect that. Eight years after his last match in Ligue 1 under the colors of Sochaux, the new OM striker has already shaken the nets for his return to France. Entering in the 74th minute on Saturday on the lawn of Lens, the Congolese international scored his first goal with OM… three minutes later.
First match, first goal, we call that an express adaptation. “I wanted to bring my stone to the building. I entered with determination and with anger. I knew how to concretize, I am happy. All week, I was roomed at the toro. It’s a great answer, ”laughs the 30-year-old striker.
He had not played for three months
Arrived last week in Marseille, “Bakagoal” as he calls himself in Congo, had only played six games with his team since leaving China last August. But the player, who continued to talk physically, did not seem out of pace. What does not surprise the Lensois Gael Kakuta, his evening opponent and teammate in Congolese colors.
“Cédric is a great professional. He takes great care of his body. He kept a good physical condition. Afterwards, he was trained in France so he did not have much to change to readapt to Ligue 1, ”assures the blood and gold midfielder. For OM, this return looks like a godsend for a club that has been struggling to find its famous “grantakan” for ages.
“It was a small risk (to launch him) after his long period of inactivity. But we thought his speed could give us something over 15-20 minutes. Indeed, it helped us. We will continue to work to get him back to his best shape, ”promises Jorge Sampaoli, the Marseille coach, not unhappy with the debut of a player who will have enough to appease his new teammates at the next toro.
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