Mattéo Guendouzi lives again. Landing at Lazio in August 2023, the former Olympique de Marseille midfielder quickly made an impression. Under the orders of Maurizio Sarri, the native of Poissy established himself as an indisputable starter within the Biancocelesti collective. Yes, but now, after a few golden months, the ex-Gunner mourned the surprise departure of the Italian technician, replaced by a certain Igor Tudor whom he had met during his visit to the Marseille city. If the two men tried to put a clean slate on their old bickering, tensions ultimately quickly resurfaced.
Tudor’s departure freed him
“When I signed for Lazio, obviously, with Sarri, it’s a style that I really appreciated. You always had to have the ball, do great things on the pitch, attack hard towards the opponent’s goal… I progressed enormously with him tactically. And then Tudor came back and it wasn’t the football I liked the most, but hey, you have to know how to adapt to any style. But it sure wasn’t a very happy moment.”admitted, as such, the 1m85 right-hander, appreciated in the Italian capital, respected by his teammates and adored by fans.
A malaise pushing Igor Tudor towards the exit. Last July, the Roman team formalized the arrival of Marco Baroni on its bench. A daring but profitable bet given the sparkling start to the season made by Lazio, fourth after seven days in Serie A. In the wake of a more than convincing first exercise (46 matches, 3 goals and 4 assists), Guendouzi seems , he too, regains his full potential. An essential pillar of the collective now coached by the transalpine coach, the number 8 of the Biancazzurri continues to perform at a very high level.
The Biancocelesti are under the spell!
“In France we talk less about the Italian championship but I know where I set foot. Every year the club is in the European Cup. I am very happy with my choice. I eat very well there, I gained a couple of kilos as soon as I arrived because I was at the hotel. It’s a very beautiful city. I visit a lot of places. You have to know how to disconnect from football. There are many things to do in Rome”confided the person concerned, this Saturday, at a press conference as the France team prepares to challenge Belgium as part of the 4th day of the Nations League. Released after Tudor’s departure, Guendouzi continues to impress. Placed in the double pivot in front of the defense and author of a goal in eight games, the player who played for FC Lorient is, today, put in the best conditions.
“I play very well in this position. I have more freedom, I touch more balls and I can guide my team. It’s my favorite position, I spoke about it with the coach this summer. Now I know I can score more goals.”recognized, as such, the main person concerned. “For me, he’s an all-terrain player. It’s a description that fits him well. He has a great volume of play and he has this ability to be able to project himself forward. It’s not that he’s not a midfielder, he just wants to be at the heart of the game and touch a lot of balls. We still have to find balances, but we will do it. Mattéo is a very important player for us.added Baroni for his part.
A new call-up with the Blues
Praised, weekend after weekend, by the Italian press, Guendouzi finally saw his great start rewarded by a new call-up to the Blues. Called up by Didier Deschamps for the matches against Israel then against Belgium, the Lazio metronome logically enjoyed it. “It’s always a great pleasure to be back with the selection. In the last match, I had the chance to play against Belgium and I was happy with my match with the victory. I remain on good momentum with the last selection. As I said, it also reflects the performances I do in the club. If I continue to be good at the club, I can continue to go there. It’s up to me to continue working to show what I’m capable of.”.
An impressive performance that the French international (9 caps, 1 goal) already confirmed last Thursday. Coming on in place of Christopher Nkunku for the last quarter of an hour, Guendouzi scored a goal and an assist to complete his team’s victory against the helpless Israelis (4-1). “The substitutes must also contribute, it smiled on me this evening, I’m happy. When we have to play, we give the best of ourselves”confided the Habs at the final whistle. On a cloud over the last few weeks, the midfielder who passed through the Parisian team will now try to confirm his change of status within the selection.
Guendouzi displays his ambitions in the selection
“There are very great players in my position, I try to be the best at the club. There is a lot of competition. I have always had high goals. I hope to settle permanently in this group. You must always make yourself available to the collective. I want to win trophies with this team”affirmed the ex-Marseillais with this in mind before adding: “I have been called to the France group for 4/5 years. I showed good things in club or in the French team. You have to be very good in club and national team. Regularity is the most important. But there are some very great players, some were not called up for this gathering. I try to stay myself. I try to help my team. It’s very difficult to find your place.”.
As lucid as he is ambitious, the new darling of the Stadio Olimpico hopes, in any case, to ride on his very good dynamic at the club to give Didier Deschamps as many headaches as possible in the months to come. If Aurélien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga or even Youssouf Fofana currently have several steps ahead in the mind of the coach, there is no doubt that Mattéo Guendouzi intends to play his card to the fullest to shake up the hierarchy of the moment. He will also have a new opportunity to do so, this Monday in Brussels, during the clash against Belgium. As long as DD trusts him…
