Here in the duel with Nantes 'Andrei Girotto, Denis Bouanga was unable to put the Canaries' defense out of reach on Wednesday.

JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK -

AFP

  • At 26, Denis Bouanga was eagerly awaited last summer for his confirmation season in Ligue 1 in the green jersey.

  • Like his missed match Wednesday against FC Nantes (1-1), the Gabonese international is disappointing and quickly frustrated on the ground.

  • Claude Puel wanted to maintain his confidence in him after the meeting, considering that he wanted "to see him all the time at this level".

At the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium,

“There is no savior on our team.

This implacable observation of Claude Puel dates from the sinking of ASSE in the derby of January 24 (0-5).

If he did not then specifically target Denis Bouanga, the Stéphanois coach knows very well that the Gabonese international has been able to assume this costume on numerous occasions last season, with a precious record of 10 goals and 3 assists in 26 games. of Ligue 1 until the premature end of the championship.

Top scorer and player of the Greens in 2019-2020, then an element courted by Stade Rennais and OGC Nice during the summer, Denis Bouanga (26) had to confirm his progress in the elite this season.

Except that after two goals scored in the canonical start of Sainté (leader on the 4th day of L1), this one connects the bad performances and especially the clumsiness in front of the goal within a 16th team.

Penalty of the missed equalizer in the

money time

of the derby to go to Parc OL (2-1), scorer against his side on the return (0-5), while he was just recovering from the Covid-19, the former Nîmois again lugged his doubts on Wednesday at Geoffroy-Guichard.

"He gets a lot of chances, that's the main thing"

Against Nantes (1-1), he was always so sharp and elegant in his ball catch and he is involved, via a deflection, on the goal of Mahdi Camara (1-1, 57th).

But at least twice (41st and 56th), he played the soloists by zapping a better placed partner and stumbling over Alban Lafont.

Add to that two wasted goal balls on discounts from rookie Anthony Modeste (54th and 85th), as well as a point blank header flying into the north kop on a free kick from Romain Hamouma (74th) and you will understand how

difficult the

losing

trajectory

of his season seems to reverse.

“An attacker walks with confidence, recalls his partner Jessy Moulin.

I was talking about it with him this week: when you see how he gets a lot of chances, that's the main thing.

When he regains confidence, I hope he will chain the goals.

Denis Bouanga is currently blocked with three goals (and three assists) in 22 games, after the penalty converted in Monaco (2-2) on December 23.

Even when it wants (finally) to laugh for the Greens as in Nice (0-1) last Sunday, we find the number 20 Stéphanois in the role of the crunch.

"That's where I want to see him all the time"

Not always tender towards him, Claude Puel wanted to spare him Wednesday evening, when

20 Minutes

questioned him on the tenacious form of his striker: “I was satisfied with Denis on his very good second period, which has been more refined, simpler, and which led to good things.

He was constant on his replacement and his defensive work.

This is where I want to see him all the time ”.

Denis Bouanga once again showed a lot of frustration on the pitch on Wednesday.

JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK - AFP

The supporters of the Greens would especially like to find the refreshing and sharp Denis Bouanga version 2019-2020, like his final of the Coupe de France without the slightest complex against PSG (0-1), at the end of an astonishing deconfinement past in a boxing gym.

In the meantime, as football fans are sometimes ruthless, some Stéphanois hailed on social networks "his best action of the evening": a yellow card collected at the end of the game, and synonymous with a suspension match.

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