After an eight-year exile in England, Mamadou Sakho succeeds in his return to Montpellier, where he has settled down as defense boss without denying the high ambitions that accompany him from Sunday in Monaco (5 p.m.), during the 11th day. of Ligue 1. Rise in physical power, accelerated adaptation and successful adoption vis-à-vis the public: the former defender of Liverpool and Crystal Palace, trained at Paris SG, quickly found his bearings in a Montpellier team reworked at the off-season.
“
Mamadou brings his quiet strength, his speech and his advice into the locker room.
When he speaks, everyone listens.
He has a real influence and an aura that reflects on the group
”, appreciates the new Montpellier technician Olivier Dall'Oglio.
To discover
Ligue 1 fixtures and results
League 1 standings
At 31, Sakho has not visibly changed his character or his natural influence. “
The Mamad who was in Liverpool, at PSG, with the Blues, it's the same that you find in the locker room in Montpellier. I'm very messy, but on the ground I'm not there to laugh,
"says the central defender, author of a solid match Sunday in front of Lens (1-0). The athletic and powerful stopper just needed playing time to express his solidity in the duels, his power and his physical presence. “
I hadn't played since January due to a few injuries. We worked a lot and I think it can be felt,
”explains the former Parisian, who takes over from the icon Vitorino Hilton, who retired at age 43 after 10 years at the club.
It is a club of fellows.
We know the mentality of papa and son Nicollin, we know that they are people of their word.
Mamadou Sakho
Sakho finally found the competition and the L1 on August 15 in Reims (3-3) on the second day. Apart from a slight injury to the thigh, which notably deprived him of a return to Paris on September 25, he went on to play matches. "
He is well physically,
" says Dall'Oglio. The “
Parisian Titi
” also quickly adopted the codes of the Montpellier club clan, in the hands of the Nicollin family for almost half a century. “
It's a club of fellows. We know the mentality of papa and son Nicollin, we know that they are people of their word. I'm the same, when I say something, I do it. It's really a mentality that suits me
He says in a firm and relaxed tone.
And if the former captain of the France Espoirs team has already had a great career, he has not given up on any ambition.
Neither for him, nor for Montpellier.
The Blues still in the lead
“
I am aware that I am having a very, very good career. The road traveled since my childhood, I can only be proud. When you love football, surpassing yourself, it's not difficult to motivate yourself. And, you have to enjoy the present moment
, ”he explains. “
I have rarely expressed my collective ambitions because journalists may think that Mamad is on fire. But I always aim high,
”he continues, while Montpellier occupies 13th place one point behind Strasbourg, 8th. Sakho (29 caps), who had scored a saving double with the Blues during the jump-off against Ukraine qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, has not said his last word in the France team either. "
If it wasn't in the back of my mind, I would have stopped my career this summer.
It's always a goal and that's what helps me be the best.
When you don't have a carrot, it's no longer useful to be in the field.
I'm not going to hide, I'm not a child, I'm 31, not 40, I'm in great shape, I'm working to wear this blue jersey again
”.
The message got through.
