Ligue 1: Moses Simon, return to the forefront

He will certainly be one of the players to follow this Saturday evening (9 p.m.) at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, in the clash between RC Lens and FC Nantes, on behalf of the 10th day of Ligue 1. Indeed , as since the start of the season, the Canaries (7th in the standings, 14 points) should (largely) rely on Moses Simon (28 years old) to try to make the difference and thus achieve a third success in a row which could allow you to get closer (temporarily) to the podium.

It must be said that after a mixed, if not disappointing, 2022-23 financial year, the Nigerian got off to a flying start in the championship. With (already) four offerings under his belt - as many as last season as a whole - he is neither more nor less than the best passer in Ligue 1, tied with Monegasque Caio Henrique. Better, against Clermont Foot 63 (0-1), on September 17, he ended a ten-month drought by finding the net with a splendid distant inspiration in a touch of the ball that lobbed Mory Diaw…and gave his team three points.

Clearly, the one who joined Loire-Atlantique in the summer of 2019 from Levante, first on loan then as part of a permanent transfer, has found his best level, the one which allowed him to accumulate six achievements and eight assists in 2021-22. This return to the forefront is undoubtedly the result of some introspection during the offseason. At least this is the hypothesis defended by Pierre Aristouy: “What we see today is the real Moses. He is a top athlete. He has an ego and he must have realized that last year he had a mixed season,” explained the Nantes coach before the match against Montpellier last Sunday (2-0).

SEE ALSO - Moses Simon's superb free kick against Stade de Reims in February 2022 (1-0)

One thing is certain, since the start of the championship, Moses Simon seems to be evolving with more confidence. He seems less hesitant in his choices and his gestures than last season. “The holidays did him good. He came back with new intentions and clear ideas. At the moment, he is successful but he has always had the backlash, assured Marcus Coco about him a few days ago in comments reported by France Bleu. Last year, he had a little hesitation, a little doubt because the team had no results. There, he is more serene, more confident. He is sure of his actions and that’s what makes it work for him today.”

This “liberation” also comes, undoubtedly, from the arrival of Pierre Aristouy on the Canaries bench in the offseason. Indeed, the ex-striker, once announced in the hot seat, advocates a football that suits his percussion qualities a little more. “We perhaps also play in a system that suits him a little more, we find him a little freer. He arrives with more speed, he faces the game more often,” says Marcus Coco. And the Sang et Or, who will have to deal with his dribbling, his acceleration and his well-aimed passes this Saturday evening, are certainly aware that they will have to block him to hope to win. But will they succeed?