A “hyper complete” profile
Olivier Frapolli wanted Rémy Labeau-Lascary, whose entourage had been surveyed, from the 2022-23 winter transfer window, but Franck Haise did not then wish to loan him. The Laval coach returned to the attack the following summer. And he would have extended his lease with a second loan. Other clubs (Lorient in particular) also followed his file.
« Its biggest quality, explains the technician, it's his ability to attack deep, he's a space player who goes very quickly. Players who do a lot of running without a ball are increasingly rare profiles, today, everyone must have the ball at their feet… His second point is his volume of play, he knows how to repeat races at very high intensity. It contrasts a little with his daily behavior, a little nonchalant, but as soon as he is on the field, he has a different face. Finally, he is comfortable dribbling and can make individual differences. »
Capable of playing up front as well as on the sides, he also does not shy away from defensive tasks, adds the former Boulogne coach (2017 to 2019). “ We just had a question mark about his finishing qualities. »
« He is a very complete attacker, confirme Will Still. It's quite big (1,88 m)rather powerful and fast. And his deep shot is very interesting like the goal he scores at Saint-Etienne where he is on the lookout. He also has a rather astonishing calm in front of goal. » The Lensois coach had first brought him back for preparation; he kept it for the season. In August, the Guadeloupean was even extended by two years, until 2028.
A beneficial loan: “It is respected”
With a blocked horizon in Lens, where he signed his first professional contract in January 2023, Rémy Labeau-Lascary honed his skills for a year in Ligue 2, playing a series of matches (35 including 26 as a starter). “ We have had a new Rémy since the start of the season, underlines Adrien Thomasson who followed his Mayen period with attention. I felt he was very invested, with a lot of determination from the start of the preparation. His loan did him good. Ligue 2 is really a good championship for development. We don't all have the chance to start in Ligue 1, it's proof, and I've been there, that being loaned out at a competitive level is important. His personality hasn't changed, he's more reserved in a locker room. On the other hand, I knew him over the last six months of the season where we finished second (2022-23) et, he became a much more complete player, interesting in his play without the ball, pressing and his calls. He is much more fulfilled and confident. » « He is respected for the person and especially the player that he is », insiste Will Still.
After an attractive preparation in Laval, the one who arrived at Gaillette at 15, in 2018, had first looked for himself. « He chased his first goal for a long time, says Olivier Frapolli. It caused a bit of frustration, sometimes bad choices, he overplayed. He created but rarely finished. The first months, we always said to ourselves there was potential but in reality not much. But he always remained in the project. In the second part of the season, he started to be more impactful. He was decisive, scored goals, caused penalties. It has reached a level and gained consistency. » A first assist on January 23 against the PFC and it was off, stats more in line with hopes (4 goals, 4 assists).
Despite everything, the Laval staff sometimes had to fight against a form of relaxation, a temperament that was resurfacing: “ We worked a lot on body language and always being very tough in offensive duels. But Rémy has a bright future ahead of him, he certainly has the qualities for it. »
A palette to expand: “Don’t close your eyes when you make a face!” »
At 21, Labeau-Lascary is still a young player, with room for improvement. “ He must broaden his finishing range to truly be a very high-level attacker, points out Olivier Frapolli, who remained in contact with him. He has no heading game and needs to work on his bad foot. »
Will Still agrees with humor: “ He has been told many times not to close his eyes when he makes a face! It's daily work. Again this morning, he had ten balls to connect with his left foot, it's not Messi's left foot, but it's moving forward. We see it every day in training when we work on finishing, now he scores 65-70% of the chances. At the start of prep, it was 35-40%. We see a clear evolution. He's a great boy, with real potential, who wants to work and go far. And he has a family who helps him. » And with a hint of malice, or professionalism, in addition, he would perhaps not have seen his goals refused in Monaco and Rennes and would undoubtedly have scored his very first professional goal with Lens earlier.
