The LOSC youth team are preparing to play their sixth and final Youth League match this Wednesday, at 1 p.m., at the Domaine de Luchin. Undefeated in the competition, she still has to qualify.
The weekend was particularly busy in Camphin-en-Pévèle, while the professional LOSC team had won a few hours earlier, against Stade Brestois (3-1), within the Decathlon Arena. – Pierre Mauroy Stadium. In the heart of the Domaine de Luchin, on the pitch of the Terrain Eden Hazard, the Lille reserve launched hostilities by winning, on Saturday, over the Entente SSG (3-2) in a match full of twists and turns. At the final whistle, at our microphone, Stéphane Pichot was already turning towards Europe and an expected sixth and final day in the Youth League.
“The first objective is to recoverquickly confided the technician, aware that the imposed pace is intense for young elements. We have already prepared for our match, with the staff. They have a recovery day and we have
a workout to prepare something. Everything goes very quickly, especially since we play at 1 p.m. I don't think we are qualified yet, especially since we are playing against a very good team. The Austrians play in a senior championship and we know what that entails. It will be difficult, but we will fight with our arguments, in front of our audience. We will do everything to approach this match with the objective of qualifying”he blurted.
“We feel a team making progress”
Undefeated since entering the competition, the young Mastiffs have however had a string of draws and are not safe in 19th position (7 pts). For their part, the Austrians of SK Sturm Graz remain in a draw conceded against Girona (0-0). Before that, they won against Borussia Dortmund (3-2) and Brest (4-1), drew against Bruges (1-1) and lost against Sporting CP (1-3). , an opponent that LOSC had neutralized in Lisbon (2-2) during the first day.
The next day, last Sunday, the LOSC U19s hosted the bottom of the National Championship: FC Chambly. This meeting, during which the visitors ran a lot, was easily won by Stéphane Noro's men (3-0), who were thus able to repeat their lineup before the upcoming deadline: “Youth League matches are difficult, they are tough and it is clear that we will have to be more efficient. That’s what counts at this level”the technician already insisted at the final whistle.
Former assistant to Stéphane Pichot in reserve, Stéphane Noro returns to this role in the Youth League to form a duo which has proven itself in recent years. To date, far from only seeing the prism of the result, the last named is satisfied with the evolution of his youth: “We feel a team in progress, in collective mastery, particularly in relation to the systems used, to occupation, which is normal because it took time to adapt with many players who played in U17 last season. The gap between U17 and U19 is quite significant in terms of athleticism, intensity but above all rigor, tactical demands.he reminded us. At the start of the season, we had some gaps, particularly on a tactical level in this sense. »
This continued progression is also enabled by the Youth League, a competition which “allows you to go faster” in his eyes: “These matches are totally different. We are really getting closer to the high level, if only in the preparation, the quality of the opponent and what is offered on the pitch. When you play against clubs like Atlético, Real, these are clubs that play at a high level so yes, this allows you to progress more quickly, especially in terms of rigor. In these matches, if you lack something, you pay for it in cash”. The youth of Lille have been warned. We will have to show our fangs this Wednesday, from the kick-off at 1 p.m.
As a reminder, the first twenty-two places qualify for the next round of Youth League. Opposed to SK Sturm Graz, the Mastiffs have their destiny in their hands.
