His finger pointed towards the sky - carrying the mourning and celebrating life - will remain one of the images of the 2016/17 season. The baby of the squad at the beginning of the season and the 1st scorer for the Gym, Malang Sarr (18 years old) was thrown in at the deep end by Lucien Favre. With 26 games in L1 (1 goal, 1 assist), 4 in the Europa League and 1 in Coupe de France, the Sportif Azuréen of the Year hit the ground running in the first team. As the holidays approach, the new youth international, addresses, with wisdom and maturity, he looks back on the season which will remain engraved in the history books and his head. His recap.  

You spoke to OGCNICE.com with Vincent Marcel last summer, then at when you signed your first pro contract (November 2016). You are here once again at the end of the season, time goes very quickly...

It went very quickly and, with time to look back, we can have a very nice recap of the season. Not only with the results but also everything else, including on a personal level, because I progressed a lot. As a group, we had a historic season, it hadn't happened for 40 years and I started as a pro at that moment in time...it's a coincidence, but I realise that I am lucky. What we did, it will remain in the history books.

It's the 16 July, you are playing your first friendly against Servette. What do you make of this baptism of fire? 

It was a bit special. I didn't expect to start from the off. I was in the starting eleven, even though there were two teams. I started with the players who had finished the season before, so I was surprised and happy at the same time. Then, I realised that the coach was going to give me a chance. I was really proud!

More generally, what did you make of the summer of your debuts?

It's often at that time that everything happens. It was the case for us. If you prepare well, you can last the whole season without injury or any problems. Even though there were some new players that arrived during the summer period, it's at that moment that the core of the team was formed and we were able to move forward.

Your first match in the league came very quickly...

... in an unusual atmosphere. It has never been like that at the stadium, and I hope it will never be like it again.  It remains special. That match against Rennes is not "to be forgotten", just spending a nice moment together. To add some happiness and joy amongst all of the hurt, during the difficult times. We wanted to put on a good show and win, and we succeeded. And I scored my first goal in, L1. In the heat of the moment, I remember, I scored and was euphoric. For lots of people and for me, this goal is symbolic. Symbolic for the club's training, for my family and for the events that happened just before (the attacks of 14 July, Editor's note).

L1, is it very different from youth football?

When you go from friendlies to league matches, to the first match at home, at the Allianz, you find something a lot better. It’s not a question of seriousness but of sensations: everything starts for real… Before the first team, it was more calm, we were looking for our style. As soon as we entered into the league, it was a game and we needed to win. We wanted to prepare ourselves to have a big season. We managed to do so thanks to our consistency

“The coach, Paul and Dante: All 3 of them have helped me a lot”

You were programmed for the top since an early age. Does the reality correspond with the image that you had of the job?

Yes, but I didn’t realise that the emotions could be so powerful. Football, really, is something really strong. There are sensations that you won’t find elsewhere, certain atmospheres, stadia. I say to myself that there is only football that could do that.

Has your experience been more intense than others you have witnessed?

Yes. We played matches with lots at stake. The Europa League… There is only one team who can win it. You find yourself in front of guys that you watched on television, stars that you played with on consoles. It is really at that moment that you realise the path taken and what is left to do. As a youngster, you have some great experiences, tournaments, matches, but you can’t compare it.

How do you feel your season went?

A first season like that, everybody would love one. I was able to improve, move forward, work on my weaknesses and strengths. I have built-up experience and learned a lot. I will only take positives from it.

In your game, what has changed?

I think that I have become more mature. I have also worked on certain weaknesses, like concentration, even if it isn’t perfect.

You made less appearances in the second half of the season, how was that for you?

You have to go through periods like that. It’s a bit more difficult, but it’s the moment when you can also come back down, find yourself calmly and work well. Every player needs to have moments like that. The mental side of things allows you to improve and to be stronger going forward. What’s more, it has been a tough season for the CFA and when we had a chance, we went to help them. Especially when, like me, you were there a few months ago.

Did you have any doubts during that time?

I was rather calm. I said to myself that in working and being serious, I would play again: that even if I was there for 10 months, there was no reason that I couldn’t play again. I didn’t stress, I didn’t doubt. I simply focussed on working hard and keeping the spirit that what happens is meant to happen.

You developed next to experienced defenders. Did they help accelerate your development?

Paul, it’s with him that I did my preparation matches, it’s he, with the coach, that gave me the basis to improve. After that, in playing in games with Dante and Paul, we were able to create something, to improve together. The coach, Paul and Dante: all three helped me a lot. 

This season was also the one in which the public discovered you: how did you find being pushed into the spotlight?

It didn’t affect me too much. Of course, there was an element of euphoria, some looks, you hear people talking about you here and there, but I didn’t feel a big change. To be known is always nice, I won’t deny it, but it didn’t bother me either.

What are the next objectives you will fix?

Personally, I just want to continue to improve correctly and to come back well from the summer, so that hopefully I can prepare for, back to back matches and build my experience. As a squad, the play-offs are the objective, but we will need to take things bit by bit and to prepare well.

---