• Olympique de Marseille welcomes Lazio Rome this Thursday for the 4th day of the Europa League, a match that the Marseillais must "win at all costs".

  • The Marseillais will be able to count on Cengiz Under.

  • The young Turk has made a good start to the season, but everyone is waiting for him to confirm over time.

A new rolled up from the left to free the Marseillais?

After his victorious goal against Clermont on Sunday in Ligue 1, Cengiz Under could once again deliver Olympique de Marseille on Thursday against Lazio Rome, in the Europa League in a match that will have to be "won at all costs", according to Jorge Sampaoli.

Since the start of the season, Cengiz Under has already scored five goals in 13 games, the best start to the season of his young career.

“I'm happy at the moment, everything is going well.

I feel very good here.

Since my arrival, I feel in my place ”, he confided in the

Canal Football Club

.

"With Sampaoli, he fell well"

A good adaptation facilitated thanks to his coach, Jorge Sampaoli. “Sometimes my friends in Turkey ask me what system we play with Sampaoli. I tell them "drop it" and change the subject. Sampaoli is someone who has a lot of energy. He ignites a lot, he's funny too. I am really happy to work with him. Even before I came, when I got him on the phone, I could feel his energy. I can play as I want, I am free in attack. And that is very important to me, ”he rejoiced.

For Senegalese international Ricardo Faty, who rubbed shoulders with him in Turkey when he played at Bursaspor, and Under at Basaksehir, this good start to the season is partly linked to the Argentine coach.

“He's the kind of player who needs confidence and freedom because Cengiz walks a lot on instinct, with a lot of initiative.

I think with Sampaoli, he fell well, ”said the one who now plays Reggina, in Italian Serie B.

A young person full of personality

Since his professional debut at Altinordu FK, before winning at Basaksehir and being transferred to AS Roma, Cengiz Under has always shown the same qualities.

“In Turkey, he was already showing maturity for such a young player.

He had a lot of percussion.

I think that's what caught the eye of Roma: a young player with a personality capable of taking initiatives and technically good, ”says Ricardo Faty, who also played for the AS Roma.

“His main qualities were his shot and his speed.

He has incredible punching power, and Under is a very fast player, ”recalls journalist André Di Carlo, who follows the Roman club for the newspaper

La Republicca Roma

.

Difficult adaptation and injuries

But wherever he went, he showed his main flaw just as much: that of never succeeding in confirming what he had given a glimpse of. “He didn't learn Italian when he arrived at AS Roma, so his start was difficult. He had an interpreter who followed him to the pitch, but obviously it's not the same as a coach. He started to play very well, becoming an important player for AS Roma, ”recalls the journalist.

Except that after a good second part of the season in which he scored seven goals and delivered an assist, Under was injured in his second season with AS Roma.

“He wasn't the only one with muscle injuries.

A lot of AS Roma players have suffered too, Under really often.

And if you are not at 100% you cannot play as you should ”, tempers André Di Carlo.

“The Italian championship is special, more demanding.

When you go from Turkey to Roma, there is a world of difference.

In the lifestyle alone, the stuff speaks very little English or Italian.

He still performed well before his muscle glitches.

But many of the team's players were prone to injury, the training sessions at the time were very intensive, ”says Ricardo Faty.

"Now he has to confirm"

Cengiz Under will ultimately never win at AS Roma, and he was loaned last season to Leicester, in the Premier League.

“I didn't follow him too much, he had a white season there.

And I don't have too many explanations, ”confides the defensive midfielder.

Under only play nine league games in the Foxes jersey.

Well informed about the situation of the Turkish striker, the president of OM Pablo Longoria tries the bet, and manages to be loaned Cengiz Under, with an option to buy by AS Roma.

“I'm not so impressed with his good start with Marseille because I know he's a strong player.

He deserved to find the right team and the right coach to return to his level, ”said journalist Andrea Di Carlo.

“There was a lot of doubt, and rightly so, but he is adapting well to OM and that further confirms the super transfer window achieved by Longoria.

After that, it's only been three or four months so now he has to confirm, ”warns Ricardo Faty.

Like an air of déjà vu.

Sport

OM - Lazio Rome: Olympique de Marseille invites 10,000 young people in the north turn, initially closed

Sport

OM - Lazio: The supporters of the Italian club banned from traveling to Marseille in the Europa League

  • Marseilles

  • Europa League

  • Lazio Rome

  • OM

  • Soccer

  • Sport