In a must-win game against Ajaccio on Saturday, Lille's hero went by the name of André Gomes! Better known for his simple passing game and allowing his team-mates to flourish further forward, the Portuguese play-maker popped up with the goods when it mattered most.

That is just the sort of input the northerners would have been hoping for when they brought in a man who counts Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among his former team-mates. Such experience means the 29-year-old exudes confidence and plays with a swagger.

"You feel like you can control the game, like you can play at a high level, so that's very good and I needed that feeling," Gomes told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "In a way for me that brings a lot of experience and I can share different realities with my teammates. As a young boy and growing up, having these experiences with all these players with this mentality, top, top players at the top level, you need to learn something from them."

'Very special!'

The weekend's brace isn't the only time Gomes has stepped up for Lille. A goal at Rennes in February sealed another vital victory against a rival chasing European qualification.

"Sometimes I crucify myself about not going forward, even the managers normally, not only here but at previous teams. They will be on my toes all the time to say 'go forward, be more offensive, get in the box and score goals'," Gomes recalled. "Sometimes if I'm not involved in the goal but I was involved in the first stage of the goal, I feel like I belong to the goal we scored. When I scored that goal, the way everyone was with me, celebrating with me after a tough game - it was very special! "

After a challenging spell at Everton, Gomes is once again playing football with a smile on his face, as the beating heart of Lille's midfield.

"The atmosphere has been great. Obviously we are still fighting for our goals. Everyone in the club gave me a very warm welcome, so I am really enjoying this season and being in France," smiled the man from the Porto region. "It was on the last day of the market, we did it in the last minutes, I think with five minutes before the close of the window. I needed a new chapter, I needed something to prove myself again, and Lille opened the doors for me. The manager was very important for me as well, and my teammates, some of my teammates I had played with before. José [Fonte] was very important also in this move. That made me settle very quickly."

Fitting right in

Familiar faces can be a boon, but they mean nothing without playing time, and Gomes has relished the opportunity in the north of France.

"Obviously the confidence that the manager gave to me, having minutes, that is really important to everyone," admitted the playmaker. "When we don't play, we should be upset and I was feeling that. It just gave me a new opportunity to prove myself again and feel comfortable, confident, playing, enjoying playing the game. And, also, the idea of the manager is similar to what I see in football as well."

Indeed, Gomes has slotted into Paulo Fonseca's system perfectly. André Gomes, alongside fittingly named midfield partners Benjamin André, and Angel Gomes, have formed a terrific trio. A nightmare for commentators, but a dream for Lille fans.

"Benjamin is a very important player for the team, since from the first moment it was very easy to connect. Obviously we have more players with a lot of quality around us which make us feel even more comfortable," explained Gomes. "I feel I have a good chemistry with him and with Angel, obviously Angel came from the Premier League as well. We are very similar in the way we think about the game, so I think we have a very good chemistry between us in the middle of the park. "

Ligue 1 Uber Eats: Stiff competition for European berth

Former Barcelona man Gomes has found Ligue 1 Uber Eats to be of a very high standard. As we approach the closing stages of the season, Lille's lynchpin will be hoping to continue inspiring his side in their mission to return to European football!

"I think sometimes people don't get the right value for the French league, so that's why I'm saying it's a very good surprise because you have a lot of intensity, open games, counter attack, but you also have teams who like to control the game," declared the Portuguese. "That's what we like, to be honest: these types of games and having more teams to fight against for Europe, so that is lovely – it is kind of the spirit you have in the Premier League. We need to be on our toes for the next games and fingers crossed just to finish where we want to be, to play in Europe next season. That would be great for the club, for the fans, so let's see what happens."

André Gomes and LOSC face an important match in Reims on Saturday night...