This Friday, two days before the trip to Le Havre, Will Still, coach of RC Lens, was present at a press conference. Here are his full statements.
Update on the group
Labeau-Lascary and Satriano are injured, El Aynaoui and Saïd are returning from injury but will be unavailable, Aguilar will be available from next week, Pereira da Costa is suspended. Chávez? The ligaments are affected, he will be out for 6 to 8 weeks.
Goduine Koyalipou
He is a striker, powerful and with a good deep grip, and the ease of finding the opponent’s goal. He’s a beautiful person, he’s struggled in his career, he knows what work means. He understood where he had to go, he will add competition and goals I hope, it’s a good thing. We will use him as a priority in the axis, I know that he can play on one side, but we will favor the role of axis. Things are going well for him, he was surprised by the speed of yesterday’s session. He scored his first goals today. I know that everything won’t be perfect, so we shouldn’t ask too much of him. He came with a real profile which will be beneficial for us, we will be patient with him. In the long term, it will bring something. We’re waiting for the final papers, but it should be good for Sunday. Physically, he is totally ready. He gives us more options, to play in 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, it will depend on the match and the opponent, there are real options with him.
Cédric Berthelin, new goalkeeper coach
It fits perfectly with the DNA of the club, he was born near here, he played at the club. He has always been a supporter of Racing, there is logic in the decision. I don’t think you’ll find anyone happier to be in Lens. It’s a good thing for everyone, my brothers worked with him in Charleroi. I would like to highlight Hervé Sekli, he is a very good person who wanted to stay but who had a pact with Brice. We knew we had to replace him with the right person, there was no turbulence or worry, no big blows… We knew we were losing big, but we managed to replace him quickly and well, It’s good that he’s there.
Abdukodir Khusanov
He is ill, in care today. Afterwards, we are not going to lie to each other, we know that the negotiations are underway, that things are moving, that there is wind in Kodir’s wings. We’re not fools, but for now, he’s still here. If things change, you will certainly know before me. He went home because he is really sick. If Kodir is there and available, he will be in the group. The price mentioned? Nothing surprises me anymore in the world of Football. If he leaves, I will be the proudest coach to have contributed to his development and development. If someone had bet on that price, I wouldn’t have believed it, I know that I would have participated in the career of a very, very great player.
The special season of Lens
I live this knowingly. I knew that coming to Lens and replacing Franck Haise was going to be complicated, that there are financial needs, that everything was not going to be rosy and magical. We know that there are difficult times, that we were going to lose important players. We didn’t expect Brice to leave now, that Kodir would leave, but I knew these departures were going to happen. We’re going to have to fill them. I came to Lens for the long term, we are still 7th. We are trying to move in the right direction. There are a lot of people who see a tornado, but they don’t see it at all. I ate yesterday with all the staff, it was a great time. I also expected everything that was said on the networks… I don’t even want to try to show that I exude serenity. We will have to be patient, I will build with all the staff in the long term.
I feel good, the defeat against Toulouse bothered me. A supporter even asked me what was changing compared to Reims. The first year, we had Balogun who slammed goals, and the second, we were 5th at the break. The difference here is that we are not efficient enough, but we are working. I don’t worry. In the content, we have a lot of good matches, sometimes not so good, it happens everywhere. I know there is always concern, but it is perfectly within our ropes to beat Le Havre. We will have to be good, united, show a good image. I know you’d like me to say, “It’s hot, I don’t feel good,” but that’s not the case.
Guardian management
-Koffi? I think his situation is simple: he plays and if he is there and good, he will play. We told him that we would bring in a goalkeeper, he knows there will be competition. So as long as everything is transparent and honest… The desired goalkeeper profile depends on the possibilities. There is a significant financial point. It also depends on the opportunities that present themselves to us, between a young goalkeeper with great potential, or an experienced goalkeeper. That remains to be seen, it depends on several factors. If we can bring in a number 1 we will do it, if there is an opportunity to do it we will do it, otherwise we won’t do it. But there will be competition for Hervé.
The recruits
It depends on what’s going to come out, what’s going to happen financially. We already need 1 or 2 offensive players. If there is a departure in central defense, it will be compensated. We are also looking for an additional goalkeeper. The order of choosing players will change. For now, it’s hard to look beyond Danso and Khusanov, they’re performing, and there are players paying the price. I spoke about it with Jo Gradit, he is there, he has always been there. My choice against Toulouse was purely based on sporting grounds. Malang Sarr had a good match, but I have every confidence in Jo. I have no doubt that he will be important for Lens.
The new captain
We haven’t decided yet. Flo (Sotoca) will act as interim manager. We spoke with the staff, and we are waiting for the end of the transfer window. We will sit down with the executives, we want to make sure that the group is complete. We will take the time to do things right.
Le Havre
It’s a team with a lot of bad luck, apart from last week (5-1 against OM). It’s a good team, they come to press, there is a very clear and organized defensive structure. They will be keen to rectify the situation compared to last week. We expect a challenge, a difficult match like every week. If we manage to put them in difficulty, we will make life easy, otherwise we will have to work very, very hard.
Efficiency
I analyzed for a long time the number of centers in the area. It’s not a technical problem, but in the head. It’s conviction, determination, almost rage. We don’t want to hurt the opponent too much, we don’t have this rage to put the ball in the back of the net. We are a little nice in this aspect, we have to move on. We have to take advantage of these situations, there is a deficit at this level, and that’s why Koyalipou was transferred. He brings that rage and that sense of purpose. We watched everything, we should have scored almost twice as much. It’s frustrating, and we knew it was long-term work. But there is this psychological aspect to change, because it becomes quite alarming.
William Tertrin, at Gaillette.
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