Experienced member of the Lille locker room, Thomas Meunier was at a press conference this Tuesday. He introduced with suspicion the upcoming duel between LOSC and Bologna in the Champions League.
After Portugal (Lisbon) and Spain (Madrid), LOSC travels to Italy, and more precisely to Bologna, to face the team led by Vincenzo Italiano, former coach of Jonathan Ikoné in Florence. The latter took over from Thiago Motta, against whom the Mastiffs found themselves during their last outing in the Champions League. “I know him well having played with him in Paris and I followed Bologna last seasonrecognized Thomas Meunier at a press conference this Tuesday.
After such an exceptional season, it is necessary to confirm and it is not always easy to face the loss of your coach and certain important players during the summer. This is why they are in a less prosperous period,”
began the Belgian.
On paper, Bologna appears to be a less fierce opponent than the last four teams they met were, but
“I can assure you that the staff is very present around us and that they are there to set the record straight when there is a little slackeningcontinued Thomas Meunier. Everyone is focused. Since the start of the season, we have seen a Lille team that is uncompromising and professional. I don't think anyone in the group is taking this match lightly. […] We are already in our fifth Champions League match. We saw our potential, what we could do and I think there is no more hesitation now. We give everything when we are on the pitch. »
Despite everything, LOSC can still approach the upcoming meeting with a more optimistic state of mind: “We are recovering many players who were injured, and that is clearly a positive point. For the rest, you should never sell the bear's skin before having killed it. Bologna is a team which is looking a little bit, but which only needs one click to make a reference match. And the Champions League can be the ideal kind of stage for that. I wouldn't say that we are ultra-favorites. I think we have every chance if we are wary.
[…] I hope that tomorrow we will also win and that we will get closer to qualification”he concluded.
