Angel Gomes made the unusual choice of leaving Manchester United for LOSC in 2018, and the uber-talented youngster has never looked back. Now a mainstay in Paulo Fonseca's side, Gomes sat down for a chat about stature, adapting to Ligue 1 Uber Eats, his new teammates and new coach. Interview!
With quick feet, incisive passing and a diminutive frame, Angel Gomes has spent much of his career out on the wing. But since the beginning of this campaign, it's in the heart of Lille's midfield that the 22-year-old Englishman is showcasing his enormous talent!
"I've always kind of been pushed out wide or centre-forward. Just playing along the front three really. But it's a position I'd say I am actually used to!" the young star told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS.
"I played there a lot in the youth Champions League at Man United. Nicky Butt played me there a lot because in Europe teams love to dominate the ball. He kind of saw that my traits could help the team out playing there so I didn't mind it, I'll play any position and I understand quite a lot of positions just through being a bit of a football nerd really!"
Rising to the challenge
But are there particular exigencies in the middle of the park that rule the diminutive Gomes out? Certainly not, and there is a long tradition of small, technical midfielders who have imposed themselves in midfield.
"Someone with my kind of height and frame is not necessarily associated with being a central midfielder but for me it's never really been a problem," smiled the Manchester United youth academy graduate. "I grew up watching players with similar statures to me. Paul Scholes was one of them, Xavi, Iniesta… These were all the players that I grew up watching and now a big example for me currently is Bernardo Silva! I love watching him, he's someone that I study closely. Every time he plays he's one of the standout players and it doesn't necessarily matter about his height, so it's never really been an issue for me!"
His simple, precise style of play regularly makes Gomes one of Lille's standout players. As a result, the skilful midfielder has started all but one game since the start of the campaign.
'On track to being a good season for me'
By playing just another hour in Ligue 1, the Manchester United academy graduate will have spent as many minutes on the pitch this term as he did over the entire course of last season, proving his importance to this exciting Lille side!
"Last season was a difficult season for me: adapting, getting used to everything," Gomes admitted. "I worked very hard to have a good start to this season and the mind-set, the focus that I put in is showing off so I think this is on track to being a good season for me!"
With more and more young English players heading overseas to further their progression, Gomes' decision to leave Manchester for Lille in 2018 appears to have been ahead of the curve.
'Teams here are to be respected'
"It was more to get out of my comfort zone. I felt like it was a step to mature me and to kind of make it difficult for myself so that there are not really any excuses," he explained. "A lot of players that do venture out seem to be doing very well and it goes to show that if you take that risk sometimes you can see the benefits of it. I feel like it brings out a different side to you that you might not have known if you were in a more comfortable environment so I think it's good!"
One of Gomes' cohorts is Reims' top scorer Folarin Balogun, who represented Ligue 1 with Gomes in England's last U21 meeting…
"The question that everyone asked when we got there was like: 'Oh how is it? Is it a strong league? Because everyone says it's slower or it's a farmer's league or whatnot…' and he turned around and said 'No, it is difficult! The teams here are to be respected because there's a lot of good young players' and they were all like 'oh… ok!'"
Partners in crime
Back at club level, Gomes has struck up a real friendship and understanding with the other number 9 in his life, Jonathan David!
"Jon is very unselfish!" beamed Gomes. "A lot of the things he does might not benefit him but they'll benefit someone else! So playing with players like that is a lot easier for me and the understanding we have… a lot of it is eye contact. We speak before games and it's 'if you see that I've got time on the ball, then I'm going to look for you!'. To play with him… it's a joy and it's quite easy and simple to be fair!"
Since August, things have really been gelling for Portuguese-speaking Gomes! His good form has coincided with the arrival of former Porto and Roma coach Paulo Fonseca, who is showing full confidence in the English midfielder…
"The style that he plays is a style that I'm kind of used to so it's been great so far!" said Gomes of his new boss. "He's very hands on! Very objective, he knows what he wants. Very technical and very detailed, he looks into everything and his staff also. I want to better every aspect of my game so it helps me a lot and I think it helps the other players also!"
Perhaps Gomes' only regret since joining Lille is the fact he was on loan in Portugal with Boavista when Christophe Galtier led the Northerners to the title in 2021.
Being there
A frustrating experience to watch the historic success from afar.
"It was! I'm not going to lie, it was!" He recalled. "There was a stage in December where I think there were a few injuries so there was talk about me possibly coming back for the second part of the season but the club thought it was best for me to stay. Watching it made me proud because obviously I'm still part of the team and I knew the following season we'd be in the Champions League and all around it was amazing!"
Your next chance to see Gomes impress is in LOSC's Sunday night's headline clash in Lyon as Les Dogues look to continue their push for the podium.
