• Goalkeeper Pau Lopez was recruited this summer by Olympique de Marseille from AS Roma.

  • When he arrived with a shoulder injury, Pau Lopez won his starting place at the expense of Steve Mandanda, OM's emblematic goalkeeper.

  • Far from convincing the supporters on his arrival, Pau Lopez is making them lie by chaining the right matches.

A turnaround in the space of ten games. Very criticized on his arrival this summer at Olympique de Marseille, goalkeeper Pau Lopez, is putting practically everyone in his pocket. “I am absolutely delighted that I was wrong about Pau Lopez. I was the first to be skeptical and I accept it, but frankly you have to know how to say it, he has won us points and has been shining for several games. His risk-taking at the foot are crazy and his decisive stops, "admits a supporter of OM on Twitter. Since his first tenure against Monaco (2-0), September 11, Pau Lopez has played eleven games, for eight goals conceded, including three against Lens (defeat 3-2), and six "clean shits".

However, it was far from being won for the Spaniard.

Arrived injured from AS Rome, "my priority was to recover as quickly as possible from my shoulder injury", confided Pau Lopez before the match against Lorient (4-1), the goalkeeper especially took the place of the monument of the OM, Steve Mandanda.

"It was complicated for him, at a position where Mandanda had a kind of exclusivity," said Jorge Sampaoli.

"Steve helped me a lot"

Aware of this weight, Pau Lopez did not hesitate to praise his counterpart, as if to apologize for taking his place: “I have a very good relationship with Steve.

I take this opportunity to thank him because he has helped me a lot.

It says a lot about him.

Not only as a player, but also as a man and captain of this club.

"

After his first tenure against Monaco (2-0 victory), and despite some approximations since, Pau Lopez remains on four very good games against Lazio Rome, PSG, Nice and Lorient, therefore.

With some nice saves, and above all some well-felt outings far from his goals.

As against PSG, or Lazio.

“It meets the coach's instructions.

When we go to press, we play higher and the defenders too.

We must be grouped together.

So the goalkeeper must also play a notch higher if we are going to look for them, ”explained midfielder Pape Gueye.

"Psychologically, he was very affected"

A goalkeeper injured on his arrival, far from convincing the supporters, and especially undesirable in his last club after two years in check.

"He was bought 23 million at Bétis, which makes him the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the club," recalls Rabal, one of the animators of the French-speaking page of AS Roma on social networks.

He continues the good performances until the derby against Lazio.

But he makes a huge ball, which costs his club the victory as they were having one of their best games of the season ”.

An incomprehensible mess of Pau Lopez which will cost him his place of holder, for the benefit of Mirante, discreet goalkeeper of 36 years promised to the role of understudy.

"Psychologically, he was very affected and dived gradually," says Rabal.

"His kicking game is really catastrophic"

It was not until the Italian goalkeeper was injured the following season to see Pau Lopez again.

Until this shoulder injury in the spring of 2021, against Manchester United in the Europa League.

This summer, it is finally the new coach of Roma, José Mourinho who does not want to keep him.

No more than the supporters, for the most part relieved to see him leave for Marseille.

Jorge Sampaoli, who arrived in March 2021, is looking for an understudy for Steve Mandanda, able to play kicking.

Which is not the strong point of El Phenomeno.

But not Pau Lopez's either, according to the Roma observer: “Roma supporters were happy to see him go because his kicking game is really catastrophic.

His raises are very dangerous, it looks like he is waiting for the opponent to come close to him to clear.

And it often ends up in touch ”.

At OM, this defect does not seem to have changed.

"You can be sure that he will release you directly into touch at least three times per game," Yann, a subscriber to the south turn, is surprised.

Crazy, when we know that it was Sampaoli's argument to recruit him.

Sufficient strength of character?

On the rest, it is clearly the job and has conceded only three goals since the last international break. So much so that the competition debate with Steve Mandanda is gradually fading. Except for Pascal Olmeta, the former OM goalkeeper still does not hold the Spaniard in esteem. “I was at the stadium against Paris, and no, no, no, he didn't convince me. There is no need to go out fast to reassure your defense. It is enough to be good, to be reassuring and the defense will naturally play higher, “estimates Pascal Olmeta.

Watch out for the slightest blunder therefore, since OM supporters are not known to be more tender than those of Roma, and especially the shadow of Mandanda continues to hover.

“Pau Lopez is a very discreet, very reserved guy.

Will he have the strength of character to face criticism from supporters if he makes a mistake?

Will he be able to cope with the return of Steve Mandanda, who will not hesitate to take his place?

Rabal wonders.

Enabling environment

But his working environment in Marseille is more conducive to the 26-year-old goalkeeper than that of Rome.

“He seems well armed, he has a good deal of confidence from Sampaoli.

He finds the goalkeeper trainer he had at Bétis, Jon Pascua.

And he is not alone, there is a lot of Spanish in the locker room, ”he lists.

“Pau Lopez is very good today, Steve Mandanda too, it gives a healthy competition.

When we find the real Steve Mandanda, he will once again be a pillar of this team.

And when both are at their best, it will be up to me to make the right decision, ”said Jorge Sampaoli.

Except that we do not see a return of Steve Mandanda without an injury, or a mistake.

And in this case, Jorge Sampoli could see his goalkeeper, now clearly number 1, dive.

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