A nugget in full bloom. Launched in Ligue 1 a year ago by the former Hérault coach Michel Der Zakarian, Elye Wahi, who will be 19 on Sunday, has, in recent weeks, exchanged his role of joker for that of holder at the expense of Valère Germain. Repositioned as a center-forward, Wahi scored three goals in four matches in December - in Metz, ahead of Clermont and in Brest - to take a step towards maturity and gain the confidence of his coach Olivier Dall'Oglio. “
Until then, he had one problem: he did not confirm as the holder. Was it the emotion or the positioning? He was also disturbed by a couple of confusing matters. It didn't help him. Even if he is still young, we feel he has potential. Maybe his match in Metz is a reference
", Noted at the beginning of December the new coach of Montpellier, annoyed at the beginning of the season by the behavior of the international U19.
He had things to digest, rules of life to apply more strictly, to be more rigid on invisible training.
Olivier Dall'Oglio
The "
cases
" evoked by Dall'Oglio go back to his exclusion from the training center in Le Havre, then headed by Francis De Taddeo, who then recruited him in Montpellier. In September, the young attacker, fatherless, was also the subject of a complaint filed by a young woman in Montpellier for violence. Finally, during these stays with the France U19 team, Wahi had been the target of certain criticisms from his coaches before correcting his behavior and adapting his attitude within the Montpellier collective. "
He had things to digest, rules of life to apply more strictly, to be more rigid on invisible training.
At 18, it takes longer to understand.
In Blue, I had very good feedback.
It's interesting for us to have this boy full-time
, ”now notes the former Dijon and Brest coach.
Didier Drogba for idol
In the end, Wahi integrated learning from the professional world and training codes to both symbolize the renewal of youth in Montpellier and offer an aftermath to the Laborde-Delort tandem, omnipresent on the front of the attack for three seasons (2018-2021). Alongside the Englishman Stephy Mavididi and the leader Téji Savanier, Wahi, who idolizes the former Ivorian international Didier Drogba, offers a wide range to his partners. He displays the flair of a surface player, capable of being overlooked by defenders, and the speed of a modern striker, skilled in space.
“
He needs space and can play alone at the edge, where his speed is confusing.
He must in the future be able to evolve in the three offensive positions
, ”indicates Dall'Oglio, who prefers for the moment to entrust the sides, and their defensive tasks, to more disciplined and experienced players like Mavididi or Florent Mollet.
Wahi, who played 16 matches including eight as a starter, also embodies the confidence given to young people by Dall'Oglio, a trainer at heart.
With midfielder Joris Chotard and defender Maxime Estève, who is recovering from injuries, they are three players born with the century to flourish alongside Savanier, trained in Montpellier and tutor of the new generation.
