Gabriel Gudmundsson: Lille's Swiss Army Knife This Season

Gudmundsson has played in 20 matches for Lille this season across all competitions. The team has struggled with a number of midfield injuries, which have tested their depth. Nabil Bentaleb, André Gomes, Ethan Mbappé, and Angel Gomes have all been sidelined.

The number of players out of the midfield has led to manager Bruno Génésio constructing a make-shift group on the fly. Gudmundsson hasn’t been limited to the midfield this season. His versatility carried over to Sweden’s national team, where the Lille star stepped in as a center-back during the November FIFA international window.

While he's been a Swiss army knife this season for Génésio, filling in for teammates whether it's due to suspension or injury, Gudmundsson's best performance has come as a defender.

The most prominent moment for Gudmundsson this season came against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Lille secured a 1-0 win, but the Swedish standout rose to the challenge of defending Vinicius Junior to help the Ligue 1 side secure all three points and the clean sheet.

In an interview with GIVE ME SPORT, the Lille ace recalled how paramount that performance was for him.

"That was the biggest win so far in my career. Beating Real Madrid at home, with the atmosphere we had, made it a fantastic evening for myself and the team. It's something we will grow from, and we are taking the experience from that with us."

"You want to play in the big games. Even though we have our feet on the ground, I enjoy getting the experience of playing against these big players, including Liverpool in a couple of months. We're looking forward to that, but we have some important games before that in the Champions League."

"Hopefully we can get some more points before then. I heard that nine or 10 points will be enough to go through. We are on six now, so hopefully another win and a draw will get us there."

The challenges Gudmundsson has faced this season, having to play in midfield, along with his move to Lille in 2021, have helped him become a better player.

"Being at Lille has been a really good step in my career. I think I've developed a lot both on the pitch and off it. My professionalism and determination have helped me to reach this level, and I am really enjoying being here."

READ MORE:

>>Recap: Lille celebrate 80th anniversary in style against Rennes
>>Sofiane Diop: A 'Fresh Start' at Nice following injury