Barcelona (AFP)
An iron curtain in Europe? Allan Nyom, Franco-Cameroonian pillar of the ruthless defense of Getafe, dreams of taking his team to the Champions League, the third Liga surprise before challenging FC Barcelona on Saturday.
"It could be our turn to live our fairytale this season! Who knows?" Slips the solid right side born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in an interview with AFP.
Getafe's beautiful dream has already started: fifth last year, the club in the suburbs of Madrid have confirmed this season, between their provisional podium and the upcoming Europa League knockout round against Ajax Amsterdam.
All this with the country's 12th budget (EUR 63.8 million), more than ten times less than Barça!
How did "el Geta" manage to join the battle for the Champions League, promised to the top four, in one of the most successful championships in the world?
"I think our first characteristic is that we all work together, we make the efforts together. This is the most important", underlined the 31-year-old Cameroonian international, trained in Nancy and going through West Bromwich.
"We have good players, very technical. But above all, these players also defend very well. It's the perfect combination for us," he continued.
This impassable defensive block propelled the suburban team to 3rd place in the ranking of the best defenses in Spain, just behind Atlético and Real Madrid. And Getafe is also the 5th best attack, thanks in particular to Angel Rodriguez (9 goals, 2 assists in La Liga) and Jaime Mata (8 goals, 3 assists).
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Nyom, who arrived in Getafe last summer, also highlights the work of technician José "Pepe" Bordalas, who was appointed in 2016 and who manages to bring the players together around his project: "He is a great coach. He talks constantly with us and he is very demanding on a daily basis. He has his own style, and he is proving that he is very good. "
Before touching his finger on his dream of the Champions League, Getafe will be able to gauge himself against one of the biggest clubs in Europe on Saturday at Camp Nou.
And Allan Nyom will have a big challenge to face the French world champion Antoine Griezmann and the sixfold Argentinian Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi. "When he does not score, he makes decisive passes", sums up the right side with a smile on the subject of the "Pulga".
"Griezmann is a very good player. He has great qualities, and at all times he can make a difference. We have to anticipate and follow him throughout the match. Our goal will be to try not to concede," says the solid right back.
Getafe, seven points from his opponent on Saturday, FC Barcelona, never won at Camp Nou, and lost in the first leg (2-0) in September. But since then, the club has grown to the point of wanting to play spoilsport among the giants Barça, Real and Atlético and dreaming of the Champions League.
"This season, it seems even more difficult to rank in the top four, but we will try. There are still a lot of matches, but it's true that we have a possibility ...", already sees Allan Nyom staring at the balloon to the stars.
© 2020 AFP