November 9, 2024… This is the date of the last appearance of Jonathan Gradet on land with the RC Lens in official competition. Since then, “the drill” has paid the price for the choices of Will Still.
The enormous rise in power ofAbdukodir Khusanovright-handed capable of being comfortable everywhere, the false start in Rome of Kevin Danso then the move to 4 with one less central defender on the pitch, seemed to complicate his situation week after week, more than his individual performances. We could expect to see him start this Sunday against Toulouse (0-1) in the absence ofAbdukodir Khusanov et Facundo Medinamore Will Still preferred to associate the left-hander Malang Sarr has Kevin Dansoheld on the right side of the central hinge where it is more comfortable. The technician justified himself after the match by mentioning his desire to benefit from both feet, in particular to find certain passing angles.
“It sends the message that the coach does not count on him”
If, contrary to what certain rumors have suggested in recent weeks, the player trained in Bordeaux has never asked to leave (although there is interest from Rennes), there is misunderstanding among those around him. In the columns of La Voix du Nord, its representative Stéphane Courbis reacted as follows: “ It's incomprehensible. Jo is capable of playing in a 4-man defense, he was trained in this system. I don't understand the management of an invested player like him, in love with the club, and who has had the best start to the season of his career (…) it sends the message that the coach is not counting on him. » As a reminder, in a 4-man defense, Jonathan Gradet could also find a way out in an off-center position. We remember seeing him shine in Ligue 2 with Tours as a right-back. But here too, competition is tough with Przemyslaw Frankowski and Ruben Aguilar who is returning from a shoulder injury. Jonathan Gradit is under contract until 2026. An update should be made at the end of the season on the situation with a view to a possible extension. According to The Voice of the Norththe management of the club would be reassuring about its desire to count on one of the architects of the resurrection of RC Lens at the highest level since 2019. But the situation inevitably places the Gradit camp in a certain perplexity as this approach approaches. due date.
