If Lille has regained momentum, it owes it to Jonathan David, essential finisher of a Losc perked up by his performances in the Champions League and eager to materialize his offensive progress on Saturday in Ligue 1 against Nantes (5 p.m.), after five days without success. The native of Brooklyn (United States) has never ceased to panic the counters since this summer: top scorer in L1 with 10 goals, the 21-year-old center forward has also added two major achievements on the European scene which allowed the reigning French champion to win in Seville (1-2) and against Salzburg on Tuesday (1-0) to continue dreaming of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League. “
Jona, he's a funny player!
», Smiles his trainer Jocelyn Gourvennec. "
We have the impression that nothing has a hold on him.
He makes a lot of effort, he is very intense when he defends and when he attacks, and he is very skilful.
I often speak with him but it doesn't last very long, because he integrates everything very quickly and he applies it, for a trainer it's perfect!
"
To discover
Ligue 1 fixtures and results
League 1 standings
Despite his very flattering statistics, the Canadian international plays it modest and does not ignite, putting the group at the heart of its success and victory as its main objective. “
My current form is obviously good because I score quite often, but after that it remains a collective success because it is my teammates who put me in a good position to finish the action. I live it really well personally, but the most important for me is always the victory. Afterwards, if my goals can help the team, that's good ...
", Explained Tuesday evening the striker, recruited for 27 million euros in August 2020 from the Belgians of La Gantoise.
However, David has multiplied the matches since August and the success of the Mastiffs in the Champions Trophy against PSG (1-0).
He has above all made a series of transatlantic trips to compete in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with his selection, which to everyone's surprise is at the top of the Concacaf zone standings ahead of the United States and Mexico.
He is still very young, but he plays like an old man.
Jocelyn Gourvennec
"
We took risks with him on his selection returns, it was almost insoluble ... If we took them, it is because all the matches are important and that he has this ability to recover very well from his efforts and his travels
”, underlines Gourvennec, who sometimes aligned him in L1 just hours after his return from North America. "
I am still young, I have no secrets! I try to recover well after the matches, to hydrate myself well, and then I will play,
”explains the player with a smile. The Canadian, known to be a hard worker, is unanimous in the locker room and within the northern club. “
He is very appreciated in the group because he is always in a good mood. No matter how much I look, I don'tdon't have a negative thing to say about him
», The incense Gourvennec.
“
He's still very young, but he's playing like an old man.
He is still at the start of his career and he will be a great player, he shows so many things ... He helps the team a lot.
He is a collective player, he is efficient and valuable for us.
"
Saturday against the Canaries, Jonathan David will still try to carry the Losc, struggling in the league with a 12th place unworthy of his status as reigning French champion.
The Mastiffs, who remain in five matches without winning in the league (3 draws, 2 losses), must react quickly, under penalty of seeing their direct competitors for European places escape a little more.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/676XY7TMBRAIFEAGKGDKVAPWYY.jpg)
