“At the time, I was very happy, I did not even know what to celebrate since it is my first goal in the Champions League!
"Scorer with a beautiful curved strike from the right foot (86th), the left-hander Ferland Mendy, 25, only encountered problems on Wednesday evening when the rich were won off in extremis by Real on the field of Atalanta, reduced to ten in the 17th minute.
This phase of the competition is decidedly successful for the French: Ferland Mendy became the third French, with Kylian Mbappé (during Barcelona-PSG, 1-4, February 16) and Olivier Giroud (Atlético Madrid-Chelsea, 0-1, Tuesday ) to be named man of the match in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League this year.
He caused a timely red card
Decisive in a very pale Real deprived of Benzema, Ramos and several important elements, the native of Meulan (Yvelines) had made the bed of Madrid success by provoking himself the fatal red card to Freuler after the first quarter of an hour.
"Anyway, the main thing is that we won the match and in addition for me to have scored," said Mendy at the microphone of RMC after the match.
It is true that we were at times lacking ideas because they played well the low block, it was complicated to find intervals or deep passes.
At 11 against 11, I don't know if they would have played the same way.
"
Difficult victory tonight 💪🏿!
Very happy for this first goal in @ChampionsLeague. # HalaMadridYNadaMas pic.twitter.com/vjzaIr75bG
- Ferland Mendy (@ferland_mendy) February 25, 2021
Passed by PSG in his younger years, Ferland, trained in Le Havre, arrived at Real from OL at the start of last season, against 48 million euros.
"There is a communion here, I feel very good there, I get along well with everyone", he specified Wednesday evening.
Obviously, Mendy particularly appreciates the coach, as he reported in the columns of the sports daily Marca this week, declaring "I will be until death with Zidane".
One way to support the French technician who is sometimes said to be threatened at the end of the season within the White House.
He always knows which way to dance
Already scorer of the 2-0 goal in La Liga against Getafe, Mendy, tenured 18 times in 24 league games, removed a fine thorn from Zinédine Zidane, whose team, in numerical superiority, was heading towards a poor performance in Bergamo, quarter-finalist unhappy last year in Lisbon against PSG (2-1).
“It was a desired action but it was not Ferland who had to shoot, the Madrid coach had fun after the match.
At the finish, it was Ferland who scored from the right, so that's very good.
This right foot, he has had it for a long time.
He hits harder with the right than with the left.
His left foot is more precise, the right more powerful.
It's like that… "
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If he gives satisfaction to Zidane who quickly found a lasting solution on the left flank after the long-lasting injury of the holder, the Brazilian Marcelo, Mendy is timely signaled in prospect of a presence at the Euro next summer (11 June - July 11) with the Blues, to a position where Lucas Hernandez (Bayern) and another Mendy, Benjamin (Manchester City) also apply.
Left side but able to play on the right, the native of Meulan was called up seven times to the French team by Didier Deschamps and was the holder in particular during the double confrontation of the League of Nations against Croatia in the fall (4-2 , 2-1).
And by the summer, he will have plenty of time to polish his celebrations.