And he still had enough in his legs to launch into yet another recovery sprint in stoppage time. It was 3-0, with nothing left to play for, just a case of conserving a little energy ahead of Sunday’s match against Lille (1pm GMT). But clearly, Lamine Camara does not know how to save himself. He gallops and gallops; moments earlier he had been involved in his side’s third goal against Freiburg (3-0, on Thursday), and a few minutes before that he had finished off the second after supporting and following up a move well. In fact, the 22-year-old Senegalese midfielder shone throughout the match, with an ability to be almost everywhere, backed by his running and his toughness in the challenges.

The tally? One goal, then, but also five fouls won (a match high), 88% passing accuracy and nine balls recovered for the player who could have joined Chelsea this summer, before the deal fell through at the final bell.

“What a performance,” Filipe Luis said with a smile afterwards. “I have often talked about him, and he never stops surprising me, every single time. I never see him tired. He needs to be on the pitch to express his talent; he has to be there. As long as he keeps delivering performances like this, stays healthy and keeps that overflowing ambition to always do more, he will be there.”

“He speaks little, but everyone sees what he achieves…”

Camara, a key man for ASM at the start of the season alongside Paris Brunner, is now also playing a growing role for his team-mates, notably Edan Diop, who partnered him in midfield against the Germans and seems to be growing in stature.

“He makes the job much easier for me,” the former Tours player agreed. “I am very happy to play alongside him.”

“He is the undisputed leader,” the Brazilian coach said in the same vein. “He speaks little, but everyone sees what he achieves. Obviously, that has a very contagious effect on the group: everyone likes him. He is a truly exceptional player. Honestly, what he did tonight (Thursday)… Few players are capable of it.”

Perhaps this should be tempered just a little, as Filipe Luis is not known for being stingy with compliments, and Camara’s recent outings, in which he has played a lot, even with minor niggles, may have seemed a bit scrappier from a technical point of view. So the task is to maintain the pace, starting on Sunday against LOSC, to make it a perfect week.

With lequipe.fr