Last recruit of the winter transfer window, winger Marley Aké has not yet had a tenure with the DFCO. His choice to come to Dijon, his return from injury, his goals… interview, on the eve of the reception of Metz for the 23rd day of Ligue 2.
With a series of four defeats in a row without scoring, the DFCO is down offensively when receiving FC Metz, Saturday February 18, 2023. The 17th attack in the championship (21 goals scored) recorded during the winter transfer window a only recruit in the offensive sector: Marley Aké, 22, loaned for six months without option to buy by Juventus Turin. Why DFCO? What does he expect from this visit to Burgundy? How is he recovering from his serious fibula injury? The winger, partly trained at Olympique de Marseille, who has played two games with Dijon since his arrival, was in a pre-match press conference.
France Bleu Bourgogne: How is the adaptation going?
Marley What: I try to adapt as quickly as possible. Of course, the transfer was quick, it happened in the last hours of the transfer window, so it’s not easy. I try to do the best, the teammates help me. There is a good infrastructure here, I try to do everything possible to adapt to the team and get up to speed quickly.
Why the choice of Dijon?
I was coming back from a fairly serious injury, the whole start of the season. I thought it was better for me to come back to France, to come to Dijon. I discussed with the coach before coming, here there was everything so that I could work to the maximum. Here, it’s easier for me, to take a particular physical trainer, for example. I think this is where I can regain 100% of my abilities as quickly as possible..
Benevento (Serie B) wanted me, but not exactly in my register. Here I discussed with the coach, he knows in which register I like to evolveand that’s what tipped the scales.
What is this register?
Rather right or left winger, preferably on the left. In Italy, I evolved quite a bit in a 3-5-2 system as a piston. It’s different, I was able to adapt, but I need stability and to find all my automatisms from before my injury.
A fibula injury…how are you feeling physically today?
I feel good. I feel better and better every day. A month ago, for example, hopping with the right foot … I had more difficulty than with the left. Today I find sensations day by day. On strikes, I’m starting to find 100% of my potential. With work, it will come back quickly.
You had rubbed shoulders with Christopher Rocchia at OM. Did his presence in Dijon influence your choice?
Yes, there were exchanges, he did his best to convince me (laughs). It facilitates my adaptation, it is important.
After Turin, is it more comfortable for you to find a smaller structure?
Yes it’s sure. In Turin, there are a lot of players, there is a demand for excellence, they seek to qualify for the Champions League every year. But when you come back from injury, you need a club where you can progress quietly, recover, work quietly in training, and getting stronger. In a big club, there is not necessarily playing time, we are not necessarily in the foreground.
Did you expect to have more playing time at Juventus? (six games played with the first team since his arrival in 2021)
Yes. Afterwards, I joined the professional team after a year, but I had a first injury which slowed me down at the end of last season. I was able to come back, then a new injury at the start of the season, suddenly that slowed me down. But I progressed there, I managed to integrate the workforce and have playing time in team one, I’m proud of that.
Whether at OM or Juve, as a youngster, what do you learn from contact with “great” players?
We learn a lot. Inevitably, we observe before and after training. You adopt the same habits and you become a better worker, a better hard worker, and that’s what makes you progress. Those who marked me? Dybala, or Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is an incredible hard worker. Inevitably, when you meet people like that, 100% of the time you think about what they do, what they would have done in your place, how they work, what more they do. And we try to do the same.
Can we try small bridges in training on such players?
We try to avoid… (laughs).
What’s different about training in Italy?
The sessions are harder, it’s different. In preparation, it’s really hard to take, difficult but important for the future. It’s not the same work culture. In the morning, you do physical, in the afternoon you come back you do physical. Sometimes you don’t touch the ball, you only go to the gym, you build strength, you come out after the gym to go do physical, again. It’s impressive, it’s another culture.
Two games played since your arrival in Dijon, two entries during the game while the team is behind. Are these difficult beginnings?
It’s not necessarily ideal. We are going through a difficult period, we must admit. But through hard work, I will be able to contribute to the team. There are quality players, but I think we need that click to regain the lead and chain the victories.
You have never scored in pro. Do you think about it when you are on the pitch?
I want to unlock it as soon as possible.. As a striker, we always want to score, we try to do everything to: the calls, the necessary runs, to work more in front of goal in training and to put as much as possible. But in matches, I don’t think about it. Determined to score, but I don’t think “I have to score to unlock”. No, it’s helping the team. If I can make an overflow and a decisive pass for a teammate who scores, I prefer, than to say I unblocked but we lost 2-1.
Beyond this loan to Dijon, what is your goal for your career?
I want to reach the highest level. I know what qualities I have and I know what I have to work on to achieve it. There are a lot of requirements, and I think I have to work a lot to achieve this goal of playing at the highest possible level.
I hope to get there quickly. I think this loan is essential. I have a lot to learn in the next four months. Besides, in a difficult situation like this. I experienced this situation in Marseille, with the reserve. We did almost the whole year being last in National 2 and we saved ourselves and held on to the last day. It’s from there that I signed my first professional contract, it’s in the difficulty that I progressed the most. And I think it can be the same this year.
