The course of the season and perhaps of Yehvann Diouf's career changes in the fall of 2022. The Stade de Reims is at its worst and, in order to replace Patrick Pentz in goal, in difficulty, the Champagne staff gives its confidence to the 23-year-old goalkeeper.

Despite a heavy setback in Monaco (3-0) to start, Diouf was renewed a week later against Troyes.

"I was keen to play a good game, given that I was playing a derby against my training club, but it didn't go as planned," he told AFP. Despite some decisive saves, he committed a big blunder that cost his team a goal (2-2), at a time when Reims had only one victory in nine rounds.

"It was hard, but it still serves me today," said Diouf, who has just extended until 2027. "My teammates helped me a lot the week that followed, before playing Paris. Approaching such a match, I had no choice but to refocus and perform."

It was also at this time that Will Still, then Oscar Garcia's deputy, replaced the Catalan, who had gone to the bedside of his seriously ill daughter. The Champenois, 17th at the time, won a draw in Paris (0-0) and began their crazy climb to the 8th place they currently occupy, 4 points from the 5th place.

Since this match in Troyes, 19 Ligue 1 games, they are unbeaten.

"Its freshness and performance"

"When you change a goalkeeper, it means that there is a problem, it is significant for a group," said Yunis Abdelhamid. "Yehvann brought his freshness and performance. The first +clean sheet+ (match without conceding a goal, editor's note) gave us confidence and certainty."

Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf on the pitch of the Parc des Princes in Paris during the match against PSG on January 29, 2023 © Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP/Archives

Yehvann Diouf has already made 12 clean sheets, in 20 starts. He has not conceded a goal in L1 since February 1, and he is the goalkeeper with the best percentage of shots stopped this season (85.2%).

Understudy to Predrag Rajkovic since his arrival in 2019, Diouf thought he had his chance when the Serb left Reims last summer... until the recruitment of Austrian international Pentz to replace him.

"It hurt me a little," concedes Diouf, who asked at that time to leave on loan but did not find a place to fall before the end of the transfer window.

He then observes Pentz chaining the performances of any kind. Rarely at fault but never decisive, the Austrian ended up giving way to Diouf.

"I knew how to seize the opportunity, I was aware that it could happen only once," said the Reims goalkeeper. "I found the time long, but in hindsight, it was a good thing. Playing before probably wouldn't have done me any good. I knew how to be patient, work in my corner and, with the sequence of matches and good results, we are now in full confidence."

© 2023 AFP