This team looks like a figure taken from a deck of cards. Wherever you look at her, it’s impossible to know for sure if she’s head up or upside down. Accustomed to challenging physics this season, Lille Olympique Sporting Club (LOSC) was no exception to the rule on Tuesday February 22, delivering a committed but imprecise game on the lawn of the reigning European champion. Lille leaves Chelsea beaten (2-0), dominated, having the unpleasant feeling of having offered the stick to be beaten, in this round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
For its second appearance at this stage of the premier competition in Europe, the northern club did not deserve. But Renato Sanches’ teammates did not weigh heavily against the London juggernaut – recently crowned club world champion. Outsiders since the double draw (following an error, the round of 16 were chosen twice) placed them on the road to the Blues, Lille have not been able to deceive the forecasts. And learned at their expense the permanent concentration required by European summits. “We see at the highest level that mistakes pay cash”, blew the Dogues striker, Jonathan David, interviewed on Canal +. His captain, José Fonte, listed what his team missed: “At this level, you have to be more aggressive, more dangerous, more efficient when you have good situations. »
More Londoner than Lille – his wife and children live in the British capital, where he evolved for many years – Fonte had however announced the color: “I hope that we will, once again, show the true face of LOSC. » On alternating current since the start of the season, capable of the best – going to overthrow Sevilla on Andalusian soil – as well as the worst – taking a beating at home against PSG – the Mastiffs aspired, smelling the smell of Europe, to find their values. Those who saw them win the fourth title of champion of France in their history last spring. “You have to have this team spirit, be together, insisted the veteran Fonte on Monday. It’s the only way to do good things. »
Very green Mastiffs against the Blues
Together, Lille wanted to be from the start, watching the Blues in the whites of the eyes. But gave in immediately. On Chelsea’s first corner, Kai Havertz, mysteriously left alone by the defense, was happy to open the scoring (1-0, 8and). “At this level, we can’t give opponents easy balls because they won’t miss”sighed the Lille captain.
Those who weren’t “not come to suffer or be sparring-partners”, as coach Jocelyn Gourvennec had announced, Lille quickly ran after the mark. Present in the duels, developing their game and often preventing the London machine from running, the Mastiffs have tried a lot. But lacked precision. “We could have put them in difficulty. But we didn’t really have a clear chance, acknowledged midfielder Benjamin André. This goal hurts us from the start. »
Before this London Tuesday, the northern club’s only incursion at this stage of the competition dated back to 2007. Against Manchester United, the Mastiffs, then trained by Claude Puel, had paid cash for their inexperience (conceding a cunning goal from Ryan Giggs in the match go for a free kick). Tuesday, the new generation of Lille, in turn, learned the lesson.
In a second period where the two teams responded blow for blow, Lille once again gave in. On a loss of ball, the French world champion Ngolo Kanté embarked on a mad ride, progressing 40 meters, before ideally serving Christian Pulisic (2-0, 63and). Two goals, on their two biggest occasions, the Londoners delivered a lesson in realism to the Dogues, still green.
Big advantage for Chelsea ahead of return
“We had more chances, it was like that today. We stayed together in the difficult phases. It was a performance by the whole team,” Satisfied Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea coach. Voluntary, but sorely lacking in weight in attack – neither Jonathan David, nor incoming Burak Yilmaz or Hatem Ben Arfa proved dangerous – the Lille gave the impression of being able to try for thirty more minutes, without further worrying the back -keeper of the Blues.
“The regret is to take avoidable goals, we are not beaten on class gestures, but on a corner and a beautifully played counter. I find it harsh”, regretted Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec. Badly embarked before the return match (Wednesday March 16, in Lille), his team left the British capital with the impression of not having gone far from a good result. “We were never far away, but they still managed to make shifts. That’s what great teams are.”summarized Benjamin André.
In the return match, Chelsea will remain this continental Golgoth, difficult to put down. “Our objective will be to redo a strong match, very solid defensivelyexplains Gourvennec. It will be difficult, but you have to believe in it. Even if we lose tonight, there is nothing to be ashamed of the defeat, nor to lower our heads. » Like its season, LOSC leaves London with its head neither high nor low.
