Having had a good start to the season, RC Lens is one match away from a place in the Conference League. One last effort for a new European epic, otherwise they will only have domestic competitions to sink their teeth into. See you this Thursday evening (8pm) for the return match in Greece.
This is what you call a perfect start to the season. On the back of these five wins in seven preparation matches, RC Lens performed in competition, during the matches that count. Two wins to start in Ligue 1 and a home victory in the first leg of the play-off against Panathinaikos (2-1), for Will Still’s first at Bollaert. This Thursday evening (8 p.m.), the Artois club travels to Greece to confirm and validate this slim advantage acquired in the first leg. In the event of a poor performance, the Blood and Gold will be eliminated from all European competitions.
For Will Still, the deal is simple: ignore the first leg.We approach this match as if the score was 0-0 at the start and we have to win it, swears Franck Haise’s successor. We must not try to calculate. We must not count on this goal in advance, totally unimportant. It will be at the 90th that I will look to see if we have a one-goal lead. We want to get a positive result.»
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Lens “without pressure” in Greece
In order to leave Greece with a victory, or a draw, and qualification for the Conference League, RC Lens intends to rely on its (limited) experience. Europe is no longer a novelty for anyone now.We push each other up, adds Will Still, who experienced his first European match as a player in the encounter last week. I learned a lot during this first European match and I rely on them as well and on their experience from last season. I am listening.» Jonathan Gradit shares the same ideas but prefers to remain cautious.It is at the end of the meeting that we will know if our experience from last season helped (smile).»
If we are able to play at Bollaert, we are able to play in all the stadiums in the world.
Will Still
Present at the club since 2019, the central defender now acts as a leader. His usual comrades Kevin Danso, in the process of leaving, and Facundo Medina, suspended, will certainly not be part of the game against the “Pana”. Not a problem for the man who has more than 150 matches with the Blood and Gold.We change teammates but the ideas are the same“The newcomers do not necessarily have the European experience of the old ones, but the experience can be gained elsewhere, according to “Jo” Gradit.We also remember the Marseille match there last season (1-0 victory for the Greeks, who qualified on penalties in the return leg), insists the defender. We expect a big match. We know how the Bollaert crowd can push us so we expect to see an opponent pushed from start to finish. We know what awaits us, it’s up to us to be strong in our heads and ignore what’s happening around us.»
At only 31 years old, Will Still has seen others. No question of being impressed by the Greek public known to be sulphurous for the new Lens coach.If we are able to play at Bollaert, we are able to play in all the stadiums in the world, claims the one who is under contract until 2027. There was a crazy atmosphere at our place, there will be a great atmosphere at theirs. We don’t feel much pressure. We know they’re a very good team. We managed to win the first leg, we want to win the second. We know they’re going to attack on the man, it’s up to us to get rid of this pressure and find the gap. Even with 10 men, we showed that we were capable of doing interesting things..” Lens, who have had two games concluded with a red card, would still be well advised to stay with eleven players to put all the chances on their side.
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