Stephane Sessegnon is like Lionel Messsi says Alfred N'Diaye
Posted Monday, April 29, 2013 by The Sun
N'Diaye hails Black Cats pal Stephane
HOT STEPH ... Sessegnon has scored two in two
ALFRED N’DIAYE has hailed Stephane Sessegnon as the Black Cats’ Lionel Messi.
The Benin international, 28, has scored against Newcastle and Everton to help steer Sunderland five points clear of danger going into tonight’s clash at Aston Villa.
And N’Diaye, 23, admits it is a relief to be on the same side as Sessegnon — having been run ragged by the former Paris Saint-Germain ace during his time at Ligue 1 rivals Nancy.
The French midfielder, a January signing from Bursaspor, said: “He is Messi! The fans love him and all of his team-mates love him too.
“He is a great guy, a good character and the biggest thing is he is a very good player.
“For me, he is the best player in this team. He has very good quality and it is very good for us that he is a Sunderland player.
“I played against him for Nancy when I was only 18 and he was playing for PSG.
“It was very difficult for me. I marked him because he was playing No10 and I was playing No6.
“I definitely prefer playing with him rather than against him!
“Every time I played him in France I took a yellow card. Every time!
“It is different now in training. I stay away from him!”
Sessegnon had scored just five goals in 35 games this season before Paolo Di Canio’s arrival at Wearside four weeks ago.
And the Sunderland forward admits the Italian has given him a new lease of life — and has vowed to continue his scoring spree against Villa.
Sessegnon, 28, said: “The manager has told me I can score more — more than I was scoring before. He has told me I have the quality to do that.
“Since then I have scored two in two games. I like this kind of management and it shows.
“I will score against Aston Villa. I am very confident I will do that.
“I’m feeling good, my body is in good shape.
“I have good legs for this time of the season and because of that I can beat two or three men and shoot after that.
“I try to do many skills and I don’t think defenders like that. They kick me for that!”
Di Canio is a big fan of Sessegnon himself and reckons his playmaker is a chip off the old block.
The Sunderland boss said: “I have known about Stephane for a long time. You could see he was a great player at PSG.
“There are times when I allow Stephane a free moment because he is a fantasy player — like I was.
“If you give them too much advice it can put them under pressure, so you can be generous with them — that happened to me.
“I hope my advice can help him as it has done in the last two games.
“I don’t want him thinking too much during a game because that might stop him using his talent.”
Sessegnon was linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light last summer after he failed to settle in the North East.
But he insists his problems are now resolved and added: “I didn’t think about leaving and I didn’t think about what was being read about me.
“The issue with my family is settled. Two years ago when I arrived, sometimes my family wasn’t here but now it is fine.
“They live here now. This problem is completely finished.
“I know the fans love me and I love the fans right back.
“I am not a player who likes to talk. I prefer to play. My football does the talking for me.”
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