Mike Maignan, Lille goalkeeper -

AFP

  • Mike Maignan was decisive on several occasions Sunday against Strasbourg.

  • The Lille goalkeeper allowed the leader to avoid the worst against the Alsatians.

  • The French international is having his best season under the Losc jersey.

Without him, Lille would perhaps have lost his chair as leader of Ligue 1. Decisive Sunday against Strasbourg (1-1), Mike Maignan clearly avoided the worst for a Losc in great difficulty against Alsatians who are fighting for the maintenance.

Two huge saves at two important points in the game kept the Northerners from registering their third loss of the season.

Just after Ajorque's opener (36th), Maignan deprived the scorer of a double thanks to an impressive double save at close range.

And at the last second of the match, he put it back by pushing back the strike of a Diallo all alone in front of him (90th + 4).

A guardian who has matured

“This draw is a miracle.

Mike was one of the best players in the game.

He was able to keep us in the game, ”says Christophe Galtier.

Very disappointed with the result and very severe after his offensive players at the end of the match, the Lille coach only gave points to his goalkeeper savior.

“He is very focused, very invested in the field and in the locker room via messages that he sends to the group.

He is very decisive and has matured.

He has a very strong desire to believe in the title, ”continues the Lille technician.

Arrived in the North in 2015, the northerner goalkeeper is now the oldest player in the Lille workforce.

In six years, the Guyanese, trained at PSG, has grown up.

At 25, he is undoubtedly having one of his best seasons under the Losc jersey.

And never ceases to mark the spirits.

“For me, Mike is the best goalkeeper in France and maybe even the best French goalkeeper.

When you have a goalkeeper who gives you points, it's fantastic, ”admires José Fonte, the defender and captain of Losc.

"Mike is the best goalkeeper in France"

Even if the Portuguese European champion did not digest to see his teammate so solicited on Sunday.

“The truth is, it's not possible to have situations like in the second half where you are looking for the result but where you cannot take stupid risks.

You have to stay calm and cooler not to give opportunities like that.

We talked about it after the match because it's not possible, ”says Fonte.

And Maignan, the last bulwark of the best defense in Ligue 1, also had a say in this text explanation.

Because the French international (1 selection) knows it.

Eleven days from the end, Losc still has its destiny in hand to become champion of France.

And Mike Maignan is not for nothing

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