AS Saint-Etienne : From pariah to hero, the brilliant revenge of Ryad Boudebouz, providential goalscorer of the Greens | ASSE News

Ryad Boudebouz, followed here by Denis Bouanga, has just scored in the 94th minute the goal synonymous with a ticket to the Stade de France. – PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP

  • Ryad Boudebouz scored the winning goal against Stade Rennais on Thursday evening, qualifying the Greens for the final of the Coupe de France against PSG.
  • A nice revenge for the Algerian playmaker, struggling in recent months and not spared from injuries.
  • Very moved, Boudebouz believes he has scored the most important goal of his career.

At the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium (Saint-Etienne),

When he arrived in the mixed zone, a long time after his team-mates, his red eyes betrayed barely dried tears. Tears with a taste mixed with revenge, relief and above all joy. “I am very moved because since the start of the season, we have been collecting. Personally, I took it in the face. And when you put that goal in, it relieves you and it feels good, ”explained the hero of the day.

Moments earlier, Ryad Boudebouz had scored “the most important goal of [sa] career ”- only the second of his Saint-Etienne adventure – and probably also the most important goal of
ASSE from that of
Brandão in the 2013 League Cup final.

This match could only end with a great story

We were then playing the last of four minutes of stoppage time and the Algerian playmaker, who had returned ten minutes earlier in place of M’Vila, had sent a sudden and precise strike into Mendy’s small net, following a balloon controlled by Bouanga at the entrance to the surface. A goal that sends the Greens to the Stade de France, 38 years after their last final of the Coupe de France.

And this is how a quasi-pariah, caught in flu by part of the Stéphane public and still given a go by recently by certain media, became the savior of the Greens. A script that actually seemed almost written. Because such a historic match for Saint-Etienne could only end with a great story. And who better than Boudebouz, with his battered journey for many months, to embody this famous providential man?

Football loves these rebirth stories

From Ronaldo to
Roger Milla via Paolo Rossi or Paul Gascoigne, football indeed loves these stories of resurrection and rebirth. These great players who, after a difficult period for various reasons (serious injury, going blank, club change, even suspension), manage to relaunch their careers and even to shape a second career.

Of course, we will not go so far as to compare Ryad Boudebouz to the legendary Brazilian striker or the world champion 1982. But the Stéphanois offensive midfielder remains a very good ball player, with certain talent. Revealed in Sochaux at the beginning of the decade 2010, the very recent thirty-something was a playmaker twirling at the Lion cubs, then at Bastia and Montpellier, before making a slightly mixed passage in Liga, first at Betis Seville then at Celta Vigo for a six month loan.

An emotion shared by his teammates

Landed in Forez last summer, in the shoes of a potential holder, Ryad Boudebouz never really managed to break through, sometimes in poor shape and sometimes injured, like his torn calf suffered at the beginning of year 2020. A situation that has not improved its popularity with ASSE supporters, who were still very critical of him until Thursday.

The Algerian international, who has not been summoned to the Fennecs for almost three years and saw Algeria win the CAN 2019 without him, however, never lost hope and continued to “work hard every day” . A desire that explains the emotion widely shared by his teammates after his goal.

“Unforgettable moments in a career”

All the Greens in the mixed zone had a quick note for their partner and evening savior. “This goal has a taste of revenge for Ryad, who was a little lynched for nothing,” said Yann M’Vila, while Denis Bouanga seemed almost as happy as his friend: “Ryad wanted this goal so much! He cried for joy because he went through difficult times. “

Boudebouz, on the other hand, has no bitterness towards supporters who have not always been tender to him. He prefers to retain incredible communion with the green people after his goal. “It is exceptional, these are unforgettable moments in a career,” he savored. The rest, he imagines for the moment in Saint-Etienne, hoping that this goal will act as a trigger.