Andre Gomes has revealed the quality of Ligue 1 has taken him by surprise following his summer loan to Lille.
Everton allowed the 29-year-old midfielder to exit the club on a temporary basis after agreeing deals to bring Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner to the club on permanent deals.
Gomes made only seven Premier League starts last season and fell out of favour on the back of Frank Lampard's January arrival. The Blues' boss then took the decision to exclude the former Barcelona man from his first-team plans this term, paving the way for a loan switch.
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Since joining Lille, the Portuguese star has made a total of seven appearances and appears to be settling in well to his new surroundings. Currently two points off fourth place, Gomes has helped Paulo Fonseca's side climb the table as they continue their push for Champions League football.
Explaining why he has been able to suit the system being played by Lille with relative ease, he told L'Équipe : "The idea is very clear, which helps a lot. What's very important, too, is how hard everyone works to be successful. It helps a lot. In training, the word 'meticulous' would be the most suitable. The coach gives us a lot of information, but the right ones. There are no excuses for not doing well."
With past experience in the Premier League, Portuguese Primera Liga and La Liga, operating in Ligue 1 has represented a new challenge for the experienced midfielder. Asked to share his impressions of the latest division he has graced, the Everton loanee added: "It's a mix between the Premier League and La Liga. It's a pretty good surprise, to be honest, but don't take it in a bad way. I played against French teams in the past, in the pre-season in the Champions League, but I didn't have the experience that I have now.
"Being there is great, I'm very happy. It's a very, very good surprise, the level is very high, the intensity too, there are plenty of good players, good teams. Many play at the top of the table. That's competition. A mix of quality and intensity, hence the Premier League and La Liga mix."
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