Moses Simon.

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David Vincent / AP / SIPA

  • Moses Simon (25), scorer of a goal against Saint-Etienne, has had a complicated start to the season.

  • The best Nantes player last season no longer seems to find solutions on the ground.

  • Coach Christian Gourcuff explains that Simon finds it difficult to justify his status as a major player and puts himself "too much pressure".

He is not so decisive and incisive.

Forward Moses Simon (25) is having a very slow start to the season.

Despite a goal scored against Saint-Etienne (2-2), the Nigerian is struggling to regain his level of a year ago.

The one that allowed him to sign five goals and five assists last season.

The one who had encouraged the management of FC Nantes to exercise the purchase option up to 5 million euros a few weeks ago.

After the defeat (2-1) in Monaco on September 14, it is rare, but Christian Gourcuff has somewhat abandoned the collective lessons to point the finger at the one he described as "an exceptional player" in December: " I would say that Moses Simon, who was our biggest asset, was not here today.

It wasn't the real Simon.

“His back stroke which ravaged the first five months of last season is now akin to a brake application.

The Nigerian no longer surprises.

“He is less leggy, less physically alert, observes the former Canary Olivier Quint.

He no longer makes one-on-one differences.

"

Surprise effect has disappeared?

The surprise effect of a twirling and unknown element in France no longer operates as it did a year ago.

"The defenders work on him on video and they often find themselves two or three on him to prevent him from picking up speed," analyzes his attacking partner Randal Kolo Muani.

In Lille or Monaco, we have often seen the Nigerian arrested, helpless with at least two defenders on his heels.

His association with a fairly offensive Fabio also seems to correspond less to him than that with Charles Traoré, less attracted by the offensive game and more focused on the defensive aspect.

His trainer Christian Gourcuff refutes the argument of a dissipated surprise effect or of a physical deficit.

“This is often the problem when a player has a good season, it is more difficult to confirm because the player always wants to do well, but especially the desire to do more.

To do too much even.

The player puts pressure on himself.

When he does not succeed, he loses his lucidity.

I think for Simon, that's it.

"

A financial dispute with his management

The technician also considers that the defenders are not more intransigent with his offensive element.

“He procrastinates and allows opponents to squeeze him.

Last season, he picked up speed right away and found himself in a one-on-one situation.

He has lost his spontaneity and he must regain some freshness of mind.

The coach does not think so well say.

Since becoming a Canary for good, Moses Simon has been hurt by a financial dispute between him and his management ...

For his part, Alban Lafont believes that his teammate "is not in more difficulty than that", but he encourages him to "vary his game" more.

Understood, a tendency for Simon to often repeat the same dribbles… “But we have confidence in him,” continues the Nantes goalkeeper.

We know what he's capable of.

"

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