Borja Jiménez, Yan Diomande’s former coach at Leganés, has given a glowing evaluation of the younger winger in an interview with AS, recalling how rapidly the teaching workers realized they had been coping with an distinctive expertise.
Jiménez labored with Diomande briefly at Leganés and says the Ivorian stood out from his very first coaching session. The Spanish coach additionally revealed that Diomande recurrently stayed behind after coaching for extra work on his decision-making and understanding of the sport.
“Look, the reality is that from the very first coaching session we noticed issues I’d infrequently seen earlier than… I used to be fortunate sufficient to educate Yeremay in his early days, and he’s additionally a game-changer, however what Yan confirmed in that first coaching session was a person expertise, doing issues at simply 18 years outdated that had been on one other stage, issues we didn’t have in our squad. Then, the primary week confirmed that it wasn’t a fluke, however that he had monumental potential for enchancment.
“Since he requested us to, and we believed we might assist him throughout these ten weeks, we did particular drills after coaching centered on decision-making and understanding the sport, which is the place he tailored the quickest. As for ending, that comes with age, however we tried to assist him quite a bit together with his understanding of the sport. In the long run, our job was to simplify issues: I advised him that when he had the ball at his ft, he would determine. My function was to get the ball to him in the absolute best situations so he might unleash his innate expertise.
“In reality, I just lately despatched him a video with some performs as a result of he was nonetheless telling me that the defensive monitoring ideas we labored on with him in Germany, after we performed with a 3-4-3 system the place he acted as a wing-back masking your entire discipline, had been extremely helpful. From the primary week, we knew he was particular and that he was going to contribute from day one.
“On the finish of the 12 months, I publicly acknowledged that in a single or two years his worth would double or triple, and I used to be manner off, as a result of it has multiplied 5 – 6 instances… These of us who’re concerned in soccer day-to-day and have been teaching for ten or twelve years had been very clear that Yan possessed fully totally different qualities.”
Jiménez backs Diomande to play on both wing
Diomande’s positional versatility was one other topic mentioned within the interview.
Though Jiménez primarily used him on the left at Leganés, he pointed to the winger’s subsequent expertise on the other flank and believes Diomande can carry out on the identical stage from both facet.
“Completely. I’d say he performed virtually all of his minutes in Germany on the precise wing, about 70% of which I’ve seen. It’s true that with us, the overwhelming majority of his minutes had been on the left, however with Ivory Coast on the World Cup, we noticed him regularly seem on the precise, ranging from a large place. He gained’t have any drawback enjoying on both wing with the identical high quality in his dribbling. I’ve heard some analysts questioning his left-footed capacity currently, but it surely’s fairly the other…”
Jiménez was equally emphatic when addressing questions surrounding Diomande’s capacity together with his left foot, saying his consolation utilizing each ft was obvious virtually instantly at Leganés.
“Let there be little doubt that that is precisely the case. That was one of many first issues he confirmed us in his first week of coaching: his ease in utilizing each ft for passing and dribbling. Anybody who says they’re anxious about how Yan can deal with himself together with his left foot… clearly hasn’t seen him play a lot.”
“He’ll thrill the Bernabéu followers”
The elevated strain Diomande will encounter at Actual Madrid was additionally put to Jiménez.
Whereas acknowledging that the expectations and media consideration surrounding Madrid will signify a big change, Jiménez has full confidence in his former participant’s mentality.
“Completely, 100%. Yan is a unique breed and exudes unimaginable starvation. It’s clear that when he arrives at Actual Madrid, he’ll rapidly understand that the calls for and media scrutiny are nothing like what he’s skilled earlier than, however I’ve full religion in his capacity to show he’s a unique form of participant.
“Time will inform, however there have been doubts about his efficiency in Germany, and he ended up being chosen as the most effective younger participant. There have been additionally doubts about his function within the World Cup, and he confirmed he’s unbelievable. I feel the identical will occur at Actual Madrid, regardless of it being probably the most demanding atmosphere for a footballer. I’ve little doubt that from day one he’ll thrill the Bernabéu followers together with his play.”
Jiménez expects Diomande’s numbers to maintain bettering
Jiménez additionally believes there may be appreciable room for Diomande to develop additional, notably in relation to his goalscoring numbers.
He in contrast that improvement course of to different elite younger attackers, together with Lamine Yamal, arguing that the troublesome half — possessing the pure capacity to persistently beat defenders — is already there.
“(He’ll excel) In each facet. If we have a look at all of the superstars once they began out, their goalscoring capacity was all the time questioned, and over time all of them improved their stats. He has a top quality that only a few possess, which is the power to beat defenders.
“Have a look at Lamine Yamal, who debuted with that innate capacity to beat defenders and is now considerably bettering his numbers. Yan is the same case. His dribbling is pure, and with time he’ll refine his statistical contribution. Posting these numbers in Germany is not any straightforward feat, and he has achieved it. I’ve little doubt that he will even have nice numbers in Spain and that he’ll proceed to enhance every season.”
Now, as Diomande prepares for the calls for of Actual Madrid, his former coach is backing him to make the subsequent soar — and to make a direct impression on the Bernabéu.
