Lens-TFC: is this time the right one? Why the Toulouse residents hope to win this Sunday in the den of Bollaert

Paris-SG (3-0 defeat), Marseille (1-3 loss), Monaco (2-0), Lille (2-1), Lyon (1-2): no points gleaned against the Top 5 (!) for the Toulouse Football-Club which must “be satisfied” with a draw at 6th Nice at the start of the championship (1-1, 2nd). And if we expand the table to the Top 8 (leaving aside Auxerre, tied for 8th with Tef), there remains… Lens. The moment of truth has therefore already arrived for the young and joyful troupe of Carles Martinez Novell, from the restart which, exceptionally this year, coincides with an L1 game.

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“Yes, assures the Catalan coach, we are ready despite the brevity of the break which has been good for everyone. the state of mind is still very good. We are fresh, full of energy, enthusiastic to not not to say excited by this first challenge to take on, even if we know that Bollaert is a formidable stadium and our opponent is a great team. Precisely, bothered in its great widths due to a transfer window (the Samba affair), isn’t this the right time to play the RCL? “If we are able to be in our best version, you never know… Afterwards, what is certain,” continues CMN, “is that we are going to experience a most interesting match.”

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Europe in the viewfinder

And the tactician of the Violets points out an observation which, although it cannot be compared to an excuse, allows us to put into perspective the empty-handed side of big fishing: “We also played these Top 6 teams away a lot.” Not false, it’s true: PSG, ASM, Losc, OGCN. In other words: four trips out of six confrontations (OM and OL at the Stadium), the most recent of which, at Louis-II, generated a lot of frustration. “In the Principality, opines Chef Martinez Novell, it was not the best in summary. But, the Spanish coach leaves just as dryly, the first part of the season is also there to guide our areas of progression in the return phase.” Rome was not built in a day…

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“We learned from our failures,” said the dynamic technician. “We must maintain what we do well, already: I ​​am thinking of our defensive animation as well as our transitions. To then improve in our handling of the ball because I have the impression that in our last outings we could have been more efficient, particularly in the center of the field. And, as far as set pieces are concerned, we have offered some interesting things; gain efficiency.”

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For what purpose? Europe, of course! The TFC does not hide it, it has this desire to return to the continental scene. “A lot of clubs have the same ambitions, we have to show ourselves to be superior. And everything depends on us, ultimately. Every week. step by step, as usual. You know my opinion on the question: our future is between us. hands, that’s the reality Today, we have 21 points; the objective for the weekend is to bring our capital to 24. Then 27. Etc., etc. More generally and less arithmetically. the construction of our season.”

Afterwards, it is well known: in a project if the foundations are solid, the height has no limits…