Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sent a strong message to his attacking partner at OM, Iliman Ndiaye.
Having had a prolific season (27 goals, 11 assists in 46 matches), Aubameyang has found redemption after a start far from a fairy tale (lack of rhythm due to his slump at Chelsea, criticism for his slow start, institutional crisis). As the acknowledged offensive leader in terms of statistics, with 74 caps and 30 goals for the Panthers, the 34-year-old intends to lead by example as well. Being the oldest player in a squad with an average age of 26, he motivates his younger attacking partners.
When Aubameyang boosts Ndiaye
“Do I enjoy being the leader of a young attack? Yes, it’s really interesting. I try to give advice. They call me the old man; I’m the veteran of the dressing room. I know that every word can matter to them, so I always try to provide the right motivation. By giving them confidence. They need to know they have talent, otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. I’m proof of that: at the beginning, it was tough, but we bounce back,” he said in an interview with L’Equipe.
PEA particularly sent a message to Senegalese Iliman Ndiaye, often inconsistent in his first season (4 goals, 5 assists in 41 matches), despite providing an assist for the former Chelsea man last weekend against Lens.
“They shouldn’t give up, especially Ili (Ndiaye). I told him one day: ‘People here love you, you’re lucky, everyone dreams that you explode because you’re from here, so play your football, enjoy yourself.’ I really like Ili, he can pull off something crazy at any moment,” boosted the former Saint-Etienne player. The message has been received.
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