It’s Christmas and the writing of But! engages in the traditional end-of-year review through the prism of the tree. For this third chapter dedicated to RC Lens, focus on the rather special first part of the season for captain Florian Sotoca.
Remember, at the very start of the season, RC Lens was already playing for its future in the Conference League with a double confrontation against the Greek club Panathinaikos. During the first leg at Bollaert-Delelis, Will Still's men produced an exciting performance, with a 2-1 victory as reward. A short lead which would inevitably require vigilance for the return to Greece.
But, from the start of this act 2, the Lensois were very comfortable, and obtained a penalty in the 15th minute. Penalty taken by a certain Florian Sotoca, who saw the opposing goalkeeper reject his attempt. A failure which cost Racing dearly, given that it ultimately lost this meeting 2 goals to 0. A defeat synonymous with cruel elimination, at the gates of Europe. And even if Sotoca only has 3 failures on his penalties taken with Lens, they came during high-stakes matches.
A decline that is obvious
Without counting the one against Panathinaikos, we obviously think of the one in the derby against LOSC, on October 9, 2022, where Lucas Chevalier managed to repel a very soft shot from number 7 Lensois. There too, Lens lost… on a successful penalty from Jonathan David (1-0). Very valuable since he arrived at the RCL in 2019, Florian Sotoca has had a string of big seasons in Artois, he who only had one Ligue 1 match at the time of his signing.
But, beyond his missed penalty against Pana, we still feel him on the decline. At 34, he saw his starting status disappear in the last few matches, quite logically. His aggressiveness, his love of the club and his combativeness no longer need to be proven, and Sotoca nonetheless remains a locker room captain.
The end of a cycle?
However, on the pitch, the young Rémy Labeau-Lascary had overtaken him in the hierarchy on the right wing of the new system in 4-2-3-1, at least before his major injury. Florian Sotoca's first part of the season therefore leaves a very bitter taste, which even resembles the end of a cycle, at least sportingly, for the man who recently celebrated his 200 matches in the Racing jersey.
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