Since the start of the season, Will Still has always started his meetings with the traditional system of three axials and two pistons. Yesterday, during the victory in Reims (0-2), the coach decided otherwise with a more classic defense of two centrals and two full-backs. With victory at the end, should this system continue?
Since taking office, coach Will Still always brought surprises and adjustments to the eternal 3-4-3 of previous years. The most notable was the appearance of a number 10 to support the attackers. Then there was the experience of number 6 with Facundo Medina. Then, that of the wingers-attackers repositioned as pistons – Morgan Guilavogui and Ayanda Sishuba in preparation matches or more recently Anass Zaroury –. Finally, there was regularly this switch to four defenders when RC Lens was racing to score in the last half hour. Then, one of the three central players gave way to an attacker.
This Friday, Will Still therefore adopted the option of a four-man defense with two central defenders and two full-backs. “When we have profiles like Kodir (Ed. Abdukodir Khusanov), like Kevin (Ed. Kevin Danso), who are capable of playing very high, with enormous distance behind them. And that you have profiles like Anass (Ndlr. Anass Zaroury) along the sidelines, like Rémy (Ed. Rémy Labeau-Lascary) which offers this depth. And like Nzola (Mrs. Mbala Nzola) which is a little more comfortable when he’s all alone. Now it worked today. Whether it will work in the matches that follow, that remains to be seen”explains the coach.
One more offensive contribution
In this system, RC Lens held the ball less than usual, but seemed to be more stable. On the ground, Adrien Thomasson shares his feelings: “I think it’s a system that was new for us, but which still brings us a lot of things, especially defensively. » A story shared by Florian Sotoca: « It’s true that we conceded fewer chances than usualbut also we were able to be effective with perhaps one more player on the offensive level. I think that it redistributed the gap a little among the whole squad, everyone felt concerned, I think that this evening we saw a real group with a real collective. »
With a more distant view of events from his bench, Will Still shares the analysis of his players: “ It’s certain that today (Editor’s note: Friday November 29), apart from Ito’s transition, we didn’t concede many chances. And yes, Brice (Ed. Brice Samba) made important saves at the right time. But it is necessary to underline the effectiveness both defensively and offensively. We must underline the state of mind that we were able to show. We must emphasize the discipline which is good. And the fact that we score when we should score. »
Don’t forget the work before
So, is this system a sustainable solution for the Racing Club de Lens? Adrien Thomasson opened the door in any case: ” Maybe. Afterwards, it requires confirmation. Once again, it was the story of a match. But we’ll have to confirm. Until we have spent at least, for me, around ten matches with this system, we don’t know. You have to stay calm, work well, because you also have to continue working on it. There are still things to improve. But I think it’s rather positive for a first. » For his 200th in the Racing jersey, Florian Sotoca is rather satisfied: “There is everything to be happy, proud, and, in any case, the journey continues. We knew it was a team that had been playing well since the start of the season. We felt them a little helpless, but it’s also thanks to our collective and our effort together. So, there you have it, everyone is to be congratulated this evening. »
So, for the actors, this system needs to be reviewed. However, Adrien Thomasson does not forget: “Afterwards, there is not everything to throw away on the matches we played before. Because, in the Marseille match, if we go in at halftime at 2-0, we may not have this speech and we may not have these changes today (Ed. Friday November 29). This is why it remains fragile. This is our first match in this system. This requires confirmationbecause in football, everything can change very quickly. »
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