In the race for qualification in the Champions League after exploits against the Madrid giants, Lille is advancing under the leadership of its coach, Bruno Genesio.
If he eventually tires of the world of football, Bruno Genesio could surely switch to scuba diving. Because the Lille coach has proven, he and his teams are unsinkable. After an inaugural defeat at Sporting Portugal (2-0), the Mastiffs' journey in the Champions League promised to be very delicate. But they already have all the predictions, defeating the reigning European champion, Real Madrid (1-0), then winning at the neighbor, Atlético (1-3), with a reshuffled team, before a draw against Juventus (1-1).
It is in Italy that the rest of the story will be written, in Bologna this Wednesday (9 p.m.). Lille is currently in the first part of the C1 table, in a favorable position to compete in the play-offs in February (equivalent to the round of 16). The players in this successful start to the season, in Europe and in Ligue 1 (4th, one point off the podium), are numerous. But the conductor is known. “Genesio, the giant slayer”headlined the Italian press before the clash against Juve, in reference to the fact that only the French coach and Jürgen Klopp can boast of having beaten José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti, four of the greatest coaches of the 21st century.
Faced with injuries, “do not lament our fate”
Genesio is a coach who “puts everyone on an equal footing. There is no distinction between old and young. He is very good at injecting confidence”directed Léo Dubois, ex-French international who played under his orders in Lyon, to The Team . It was better, given the LOSC infirmary full to bursting, and therefore the obligation to play usual replacements or young shoots.
Elyxandro Cegarra / Panoramic
Currently, six players are on the sidelines (Samuel Umtiti, Tiago Santos, Nabil Bentaleb, André Gomes, Angel Gomes and Ethan Mbappé). Lane players Hakon Haraldsson and Ismaily also missed matches, like Rémy Cabella. “We have shown that we have resources in recent weeks. We're going to have to have imagination.”said Genesio at the beginning of November. To keep LOSC afloat, he relied on his executives, “leaders who convey the opportunities to be seized rather than lamenting our fate”. And to remind: “Luck does not exist, you have to provoke it and go get it.”
It is this conquering speech that Genesio, 58 years old, maintains with his players. Last month, he revealed “insist a lot” on the fact that “winning through difficulty brings a lot of confidence”. Like against Real in the Champions League, in the Northern derby in Lens with two goals in added time (October 26, 0-2), or even against Atlético. “We didn’t get into the match very well”recognized experienced midfielder Benjamin André after the final whistle.
We question ourselves, the staff, the players and myself, to avoid falling into monotony and letting ourselves go.
Bruno Genesio, LOSC coach.
The Lille player explained that the game plan his team stuck to was the right one, and ended up paying off with victory at the end, even if they didn't “maybe not a great match”by his admission. Moreover, it is not through shimmering performances that the Mastiffs stand out, they who sometimes rely on their goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, rewarded for his prowess with a call-up to the French team.
“We are proud of our performances but we question ourselves, the staff, the players and myself, to avoid falling into monotony and letting ourselves go”assured Genesio. Beware of overconfidence. Since its defeat at Sporting on September 17, Lille has gone 11 games without losing. Wednesday's meeting in Bologna looks like a trap match. It is up to the northern manager to still find the right resources.
