PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Why Cedric Bakambu is flourishing under Javi Calleja

Congolese striker Cedric Bakambu

Monday Nov 06, 2017. 16:00

The Democratic Republic of Congo international is among the players competing for this season's Spanish La Liga Golden Boot.

Only FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and Italian hitman Simone Zaza have scored more goals than Bakambu in the league this season.

Bakambu has hit the back of the net eight times, while Argentine forward Messi and Valencia striker Zaza have scored 12 and nine goals respectively.

Since the arrival of coach Javi Calleja at Villarreal two months ago, the Yellow Submarine have been playing direct football and Bakambu has also been prolific under the Spanish tactician.

"The arrival of the new coach has made the team react," Bakambu said on Elperiodico Mediterraneo.

"It is true that we now have a more direct game and that is good for the strikers, as they generate more goals and opportunities.

"There are very few days that have been able to work with the new coach."

Last season, Bakambu netted 11 goals in 26 league matches for Villarreal, but he looks destined to score more goals having already netted eight goals in 10 games in the current campaign.

When asked about his target for this season, the 26-year-old insisted that he is only focused on scoring goals for the Yellow Submarine.

"That's not a topic I like or want to talk about, I do not think I should give figures, what I should focus on is to mark the maximum possible," he added

"The scoring is good for me, but what matters is to win, I have scored a good number of goals and that makes me happy."