Why Valentin Rongier has trouble concluding with OM

• Valentin Rongier strikes a lot but does not score.
• His OM coach André Villas-Boas believes that this lack of goal turns into “obsession” for the OM midfielder.
• These finishing concerns seem to have more psychological than technical causes.

The “51”, a favorite number for many Marseillais, is not Valentin Rongier's lucky number. The midfielder of OM finds this Saturday (5.30 p.m.) FC Nantes, his training club, decked out in a nasty statistic: of the 51 players who try the most strikes in Ligue 1, he is the only one to n have scored no goals. OM's number 21 attempted 34 shots in 20 games with their new team. He shoots, on average, once every half time. Almost as often as Strasbourg's Adrien Thomasson, who has already scored 8 goals in Ligue 1 this season (one shot every 41 minutes). Only Lyonnais Thiago Mendes has stats comparable to those of Rongier, with 26 shots in 22 games, for no goal.

"It is true that since I have been there, I have tried a lot but I have not yet scored," admitted the former Nantais on February 14. I cannot say why. "According to his coach André Villas-Boas, the subject even turns into" obsession ":" He seeks his goal for his confidence. The Marseille coach offered him a golden opportunity last Sunday in Lille, appointing him to take a penalty, in the absence of Dimitri Payet and Kevin Strootman, usually responsible for this mission.

"He was just before the decisive gesture ...", says Dib

"When we saw him come forward, we felt that he was not confident," said former Olympian Marcel Dib. His U13 shot, neither strong nor well placed, was easily caught by Mike Maignan. For Marcel Dib, “Valentin Rongier may be rushing his strikes a bit: he is not 100% sure of the exact moment when he must strike, I think he is just beating before the decisive gesture. "The man said himself:" I think my foot is able to frame the majority of my strikes, but in the match, I may have a blockage. Maybe on a mental level. "

Rongier two days ago: "I have a psychological block in front of the goal". Penalty for OM, who takes the penalty? I will let you guess. It is anything, really. #LOSCOM

In Nantes, last season, the "blockage" had finally jumped. "He scored a lot with us last season," observes Canary Samuel Moutoussamy. "A lot" is an exaggerated hair. Valentin Rongier had scored four goals in Ligue 1, his strongest ratio nevertheless in pro on an exercise in the yellow and green jersey. François Bourgeais, former head of pre-training at FC Nantes and ex-educator of Rongier, is convinced: “This is not a technical problem. Because even under pressure he is very gifted. This missed penalty tends to stigmatize this difficulty in scoring, but I am convinced that it is a question of time. After Valentine's Day, he always has the image of the one who makes others play. "

A “maddening” ball behavior when he was young

A quality that has stuck with him since his beginnings in Jonelière at the age of 7 years. “In chick, he was so above, remembers Christian Lastennet, his very tiny trainer. For him, everything seemed easy. »Even scoring goals? “He didn't miss much, he knew how to do everything. He was skilful in front of the goals and it was not said that he did not score much. Well, after in chicks, the guards were not always exceptional! "

Ronan Bureau, one of the educators of Valentin Rongier the previous year, in Saint-Herblain, believes "that it is not for his quality of strike that he was spotted by the recruiters of FC Nantes" .Valentin Rongier, who then floated in a yellow flocked McDonald's jersey from SHOC (Saint-Herblain olympic club), “had not yet developed his strike. Some 6 year olds already have the kick kick. Him, it was his driving ball that was maddening, the ball stuck to his foot! "

The click Saturday against ... Nantes?

Abdoulaye Touré, who accompanied Valentin in all categories of young people with the Canaries, also did not forget the vista of the current OM environment: “Frankly, in chicks, it was the best in France. Technically, he was above and he always saw before the others. »Turned into 9, Rongier as a small pocket game leader. "Being more efficient is indeed always the room for improvement he has had," continues the current Nantes captain. Afterwards, he makes so much effort on the pitch that he can lose his lucidity in front of the goal… ”François Bourgeais is“ not worried ”and is sure that“ success will come ”. "When it clicks, the rest will follow, I'm sure," says Samuel Moutoussamy. "But we will prevent this click from happening Saturday," blows Abdoulaye Touré.

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