The trainees pros Marco Majouga and Nassim Chadli point the tip of their nose to the Gardois at the time of tackling the 20th day of Ligue 1 (Saturday January 16, at 4 p.m., in Marseille). Portraits.
Establishing them would be “putting too much weight on their backs”. But Marco Majouga and Nassim Chadli are “children who are not afraid, who have their card to play and are likely to bring a plus”, assures trainer Jérôme Arpinon.
These two 19-year-old offensives, who arrived in Nîmes Olympique in July 2018, regularly participate in training with the pro group. They have even been lying several times on a score sheet in Ligue 1 this season: nine times for Majouga, who could be traveling to Marseille, for five entries into play (92 ‘); three times for Chadli, for an entry into play (2 ‘).
They are the future of Nîmes Olympique
If they have intrinsic athleticism, it is “still lacks gasoline to be able to repeat the efforts at the highest level”, judges the technician from Nîmes, who specifies: “They are in a phase of improvement. They still have too much technical waste, are not precise enough in the pass and they have to improve in the game with the others and on the tactical level.”
“They are the future of Nîmes Olympique, assures in any case Toifilou Maoulida, coach of the U19 crocos, who also trained them when he was in charge of the U17s. They are hardworking, diligent, serious and respectful. Nothing is taken for granted, they have to work more to get their professional contract but they are on the right track, I feel that they are crossing levels. “
1. Marco Majouga, the modern striker
“Speed and power, he has great potential and all the qualities of a modern striker”, Toifilou Maoulida analysis.
Versatile, the native of Toulouse, right-handed, can evolve “on the whole front of the attack, completes the striker in more than 650 professional matches. It weighs on the defenses and causes breaches by its calls in depth. “
Majouga, who measures 1.82 m, has “of the jump, he goes high when he jumps to play with his head”, appreciates Jérôme Arpinon, who finds his speed interesting, when Nîmes is playing low enough, “to take spaces behind the back of a defense”.
He needs to improve now in the finish. “He is generous in the effort and sometimes lacks lucidity when it comes to concluding, he rushes too much, he hits when he could afford an extra touch”, explains Toifilou Maoulida who, of course, has not missed any of his appearances in Ligue 1: “He has done good things but he must provoke and dare more.”
2. Nassim Chadli, the dribbler
It is because he already has elements of his profile, like Ferhat or Eliasson, foot players like him, that Nassim Chadli has made fewer appearances than Majouga. Born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze and nephew of Khalid Boutaïb, he is a left-hander who likes to play in the right lane to get back on his strong foot and roll up his shots. It can also evolve between the lines, in number 10.
“Very efficient in front of the goal where he has progressed enormously, he is a provocateur, capable of eliminating by dribbling, of unlocking a match by bringing insanity”, judge Toifilou Maoulida. If Chadli has “understood that he had to make efforts for the collective and work on his defensive replacement”, he must also learn to simplify his game.
“He takes risks in areas where it is not useful”, points out Jérôme Arpinon. “He has the faults of his qualities”, confirms Maoulida who notes that Chadli, “a strong character”, a “matured”. “He was unruly and had a tendency to scatter, to room, to be individualistic. He was reframed and he put a lot of effort into his behavior and he finds the reward for it.”
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