Guendouzi's Journey: From Lazio Drama to French National Team Return

2024-03-19 21:32:00

It’s an expression dear to Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, aka OSS 117. “Not bad, I like it!”, he exclaims at the start of a second part of a saga that has become cult. Jean Dujardin does not hold it against Mattéo Guendouzi, but his famous “like a Monday!” perfectly sums up what the midfielder has just experienced. A little cool in the afternoon, then sunshine to finish… the recipe for a very funny Monday!

But let’s start again in order. After leaving OM last summer, fleeing a context that had become difficult due in particular to a sometimes complicated relationship with his ex-coach Igor Tudor, Guendouzi managed to relaunch himself at Lazio (37 matches, 3 goals and 3 assists) since. And even establish himself as a full-fledged holder, becoming one of the darlings of fans. Yes, but his team is lacking results this season. After 29 days, it only occupies 9th place in the championship, 9 points from the 4th and final qualifying place for the next Champions League. Lazio has also just been eliminated in the round of 16 of the C1 by Bayern Munich.

So, feeling betrayed by certain executives in his locker room, Maurizio Sarri decided to resign, he who had been in office since 2021 and who had led Lazio to 2nd place in Serie A last season. And to replace him, guess who decided to bet on Claudio Lotito, the president of the Biancocelesti? On target. Igor Tudor, obviously. Not really what was planned in Guendouzi’s plans. Especially since the Croatian technician is coming to stay for the long term.

Tudor-Guendouzi, cohabitation had almost become impossible

During the day on Monday, upon reading the news, suffice to say that the former Marseillais, whose relationship with Sarri was in good shape, did not really jump to the ceiling. It must be said that between the two, the atmosphere was sometimes tense last season. To the point that his playing time ended up dropping drastically at the end of the season.

Mattéo Guendouzi and Igor Tudor (Olympique de Marseille)

Credit: Imago

“I am not demanding absolutely anything at all, I have a contract,” Guendouzi explained. “I have always met my responsibilities on and off the field. I have commitments, I will stick to them until the end. Of course, it’s not easy being on the bench, I always wanted to help the team and you feel helpless. But I can bring a lot to the team when I’m called upon. I’m definitely a added value. I will always stay with my values, always stick to my guns. I will always give my all on the pitch.” Even if playing behind the striker, his position under Igor Tudor, was not really his cup of tea, causing him a rather blatant lack of reference points.

“There were matches where I was not at my best, like Monaco. In that position, higher up, we touch fewer balls, I sometimes feel less useful to the team. But you have to adapt”, he regretted at the time. Not really the type to grant privileges, his coach has always spoken to the point when necessary. Without regret or remorse. To the point, sometimes, of bringing him out at half-time. As in the matches against Monaco, Clermont or even Rennes. “On the bench, the situation is difficult to live with. You feel helpless, not being able to help your teammates,” he admitted. Often raised on the subject during his various press conferences, Tudor has never stuttered.

“I always make the choice that seems fairest to me, regardless of the player,” he warned in March 2023. “He has always played, he has been important, he has played well, he has had an important season. always expect more from him, but I say that about everyone. We work on the faults. The good things, we put them aside because he has them. He’s a midfielder who is in front of the defense, it’s It is true that we used him above. But his role is to be in front of the defense. The objective is to make him become even more solid. It is necessary that, when he is there, that the others do not don’t pass. He can do it, he has a good vision of the game. When you start to rest on your laurels, it’s never good.”

Fortunately, the Blues have arrived…

And now ? While waiting to find Tudor in Rome, which he probably never would have imagined, or at least not so quickly, Guendouzi will be able to enjoy his return to the France team. Because yes, the doors of the Blues opened again Monday evening, after the officialization of Antoine Griezmann’s package. The Lazio player has not been called up since the 2022 World Cup.

The last of his 7 selections (1 goal) dates back to the final group match in Qatar, lost against Tunisia (1-0). A comeback that he had been waiting for for a year and a half, and which certainly made him smile (again) on Monday. Especially with a view to Euro 2024. “If playing again in the French team is a goal? Of course, he replied in an interview with Messaggero at the end of last year. Going to Qatar was a great goal. I know I have to work hard to go to Germany next summer. I know Deschamps is following me, I’ve been there since I was 19. I have to play and play well to get back there.” Promised thing…

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Never forgotten since his departure from OM, Guendouzi has always been followed by the Blues staff this season. And his performances on the pitch ended up convincing everyone, Didier Deschamps first and foremost. If the competition promises to be strong in the middle (Camavinga, Fofana, Rabiot, Tchouaméni, Zaire-Emery…), the ex-Marseillais, very appreciated by the locker room and welcomed with great fanfare at Clairefontaine on Tuesday, hopes to take advantage of the “squad review” promised by the coach to score points against Germany or more probably Chile.

For these two meetings, DD wants to “involve as many players as possible, anticipate what may happen in May or June, we are never safe” from injuries. “We are not here to try things, we know the players,” he said at a press conference. He didn’t call any newbies to this gathering, despite the rumored Bradley Barcola. “We are in rehearsal”, explained the coach, to “try different combinations in the two matches”. “The advantage is to have a full week to prepare for the match against Germany”, before that against Chile, Tuesday (9 p.m.) at the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille, he concluded. A stadium that Mattéo Guendouzi knows quite well. In the end, it’s all just a story of reunion. With Tudor, the Blues, and perhaps the Vélodrome. Some should please him a little more than others…