Passing in front of the media following LOSC's defeat at Liverpool (2-1) this Tuesday, Lucas Chevalier, Alexsandro and Bruno Genesio all spoke about the chances of reaching the Top 8. The goalkeeper, from his side, don't believe it anymore.
For several weeks, 36 teams have been struggling to continue their epic journey in the Champions League: the most prestigious of European competitions. For its part, on the occasion of its seventh stage, LOSC opposed Liverpool at Anfield. The outcome, predicted in advance by many observers, was a logical defeat (2-1) given the nature of the match, even if the Mastiffs fought firmly to try to upset the natural order of things. Following this result, they fell a few positions to place themselves, one day before the end of the regular season, in twelfth position with 13 units on the clock.
The Top 8, still a goal?
Author of a great European campaign, the Lille club has not hidden its ambitions in recent weeks, aiming for the idea of integrating the first eight places synonymous with direct qualification, without going through the play-offs, for the round of 16 of the League of Champions. With this setback, nothing is now obvious. These sixteen points might not be enough to reach the Grail and Lucas Chevalier is aware of that.
“We must first look towards Strasbourg, with Ligue 1, and only then will we look towards Feyenoord.
But sixteen points, I don't know if it will be enough to enter the top 8. I even think it won't be, but due to a misunderstanding, we don't know. Maybe if we score a lot of goals against Feyenoord, it can happen. Regardless, the goal will be to finish well. A victory would put us in the best possible place. The good thing is that all the matches are played at the same time.
This will allow you to play without making calculations based on the different results. It's better that way.
But again, I think sixteen points won’t be enough to be in the top 8.”launched the last rampart of LOSC in the mixed zone this Tuesday.
No calculation, that's exactly what Bruno Genesio wants:
“We still have the possibility of qualifying directly for the round of 16 by beating Feyenoord.
We will also have to wait for the other results because it is very close. This will sometimes be played out on goal averagehe admits, believing that this does not change anything in Lille’s ambitions.
We know that, whatever happens, we will have to beat Feyenoord to hope to have a chance of reaching the round of 16. We will have to use the same ingredients as here, especially in the second half, when we will be at home to impose our game a little more than what we were able to do in the first half.commented the technician who wanted, at least, to end on a good note.
Finally, it was Alexsandro who appeared the most optimistic. The latter seemed assured that LOSC would
“finish in the first nine places”he said at the final whistle. However, like the fourth place at the foot of the podium, ninth is not enough to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. The ambition is nevertheless intact and that is the most important thing.
