Whereas each place is vital in soccer, probably the most psychological burden is normally on the person donning the number one shirt. That is why we don’t see many golf equipment deploying younger shot-stoppers of their ranks. So, when any younger, proficient goalkeeper rises, an excessive amount of consideration is spent on him. That is why the rise of Toulouse teenager Guillaume Restes has garnered huge consideration from everybody.
At simply 19 years previous, Restes grew to become the primary alternative at Toulouse and carried out admirably, contemplating his younger age and the strain of a high league like Ligue 1. Goalkeepers, particularly younger ones, are a rarity; due to this fact, the demand for such gamers is increased than in some other place.
So, who’s Guillaume Restes, and the way good is he?
Who’s Guillaume Restes
Guillaume Restes was born in Toulouse, the fourth-largest metropolis in France. Toulouse is dwelling to Airbus, one of many two largest plane producers on the planet. Maybe the aviation conglomerate impressed Restes to set lofty objectives and fly excessive within the footballing world.
The shot-stopper joined the native membership Toulouse FC as a six-year-old. Through the years, he slowly rose via the ranks. Being a goalkeeper within the youth ranks makes it very robust to rise, as just one participant takes the spot.
Nevertheless, such was the expertise of Restes that he frequently performed in groups far above his age. Toulouse recognised his expertise early and signed him to a contract as quickly as he turned 16 in 2021. He was instantly despatched to Toulouse B, the reserve group that performed in Championnat Nationwide 3, the fifth division of the French soccer system. He made 4 appearances for them, preserving two clear sheets.
The subsequent season, he made 12 appearances for the group. His efficiency was one of many the explanation why Toulouse completed second within the league: 55 factors, 14 greater than the earlier season.
On the finish of 2022-23, Toulouse confronted a dilemma. After Maxime Dupe’s departure, three goalkeepers had been vying for the beginning spot: Alex Dominguez, Kjetil Haug, and Restes. Restes was the youngest and most inexperienced. Nevertheless, he was handed the beginning spot due to his expertise and drive.
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Guillaume Restes stats
Toulouse supervisor Carles Martínez Novell took a threat by backing Restes because the beginning goalkeeper, however this transfer has paid properly. Whereas he has solely stored 4 clear sheets, a have a look at his stats say he is much better. Restes has made 74 saves this season, the tenth-most within the league.
He has additionally performed 96 correct balls and has a good save proportion of 67.27 p.c. Nevertheless, for a goalkeeper, the one stat that issues most is his efficiency in large video games. His true take a look at got here within the Europa League recreation in opposition to Liverpool, the place he helped his group win 3-2. One other good efficiency of his got here in opposition to Good, when he made 5 key saves to assist his group win the sport 2-1.
His finest recreation in Ligue 1, although, must be the one in opposition to Marseille. He made six saves that earned Toulouse a well-earned level on the highway. Restes’ stats don’t rank him among the many high goalkeepers in Ligue 1, however we should keep in mind that he’s solely 19 and enjoying able the place gamers develop till their late 20s. If Restes retains this tempo of growth, then he might simply absolutely be enjoying a high membership sooner or later.
Toulouse’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Guillaume Restes main the extremely chants after the 3-2 win in opposition to Liverpool. ✨🇫🇷📢
— Soccer Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 10, 2023
Guillaume Restes type of play and positioning
One other factor concerning the goalkeeper is that exterior of saving, his different main attributes are massively decided by what ways a group deploys. A goalkeeper like Ederson and Alisson wouldn’t be the best candidate for a membership like Atletico Madrid that doesn’t require their goalkeeper to be extraordinarily proficient with the ball at their ft, and the reverse can also be true, as Jan Oblak wouldn’t be too comfy with the ball at his ft.
Guillaume Restes performs in a Toulouse group that performs a really defensive system, and the statistics again it up. They’ve gained the second-most aerial duels (389), gained the fourth-most fouls, conceded probably the most fouls, and have obtained probably the most yellow playing cards.
So, Restes’ sole focus is to make sure the ball doesn’t discover the again. Whereas his passing reveals that he could possibly be developed right into a modern-day ‘sweeper keeper,’ that objective stays a distant dream for now.
His top is 1.86 metres, which, by goalkeeper requirements, is a bit of quick, however such are his reflexes and positioning that he’s capable of overcome this shortcoming. An important factor is that he has that calm head that’s required from a primary underneath a strain state of affairs, and that too at such a younger age.
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Guillaume Restes potential
An adolescent enjoying as an everyday beginning goalkeeper in a top-five league is the one assertion one wants to understand the potential. And Restes has proved that he’s greater than able to holding his personal on the large stage. Whereas it is just his first season, the speed at which he has risen, he’s being monitored by high golf equipment and tracked by France’s nationwide group setup.
After Hugo Lloris’ retirement, a bunch of goalkeepers are vying to be the following star between the objectives for Les Bleus. Whereas they’re excellent candidates for the position, corresponding to Mike Maignan, Lucas Chevalier, and Yehvann Diouf, Restes has an actual shot at getting the position if he retains up his type for the following two to 3 years. If he does that, then he could possibly be the primary man for the 2018 world champions for greater than a decade.