Chancel Mbemba, OM defender, appeared emotional after the draw against Atalanta Bergamo (1-1) in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League. He experienced his goal as a deliverance.
A winning return. Chancel Mbemba (29), bothered by a knee injury in recent weeks, allowed OM to snatch a draw by equalizing with a magnificent strike against Atalanta Bergamo (1-1), Thursday in semi-final first leg of the Europa League. A goal experienced with emotion by the central defender who left a few tears at the microphone of Canal+ at the end of the meeting.
“I suffered a lot”
“It’s thanks to my teammates because I suffered a lot with an injury,” said the Democratic Republic of Congo international, on Canal+. Affected against PSG at the end of March, the former FC Porto player missed the following four league matches due to meniscus pain. He started against Benfica in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League before having to give up his place at half-time.
The player therefore experienced this return and this goal with emotion. He saluted the Vélodrome for its incredible fervor on Thursday evening. “I say thank you to our supporters,” he said at a press conference. “Because today we saw the Vélodrome vibrate again. We gave it our all, we dominated our match. I’m going to say to all the supporters: anything is possible, we’re going to go there, to the war.”
Before the meeting, Mbemba, who arrived last summer in Marseille, had received unexpected public support from Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and OM fan, on the sidelines of the visit of his counterpart from the Democratic Republic from Congo, Felix Tshisekedi. “In the sporting field, many great Congolese athletes play in France, starting with the captain of the Leopards, Chancel Mbemba, to whom I wish the best for Thursday’s match with OM,” said the head of the State.