In France, we often take the same anglicism, that of “outsider”, to designate the team which, like Lille this Tuesday, February 22 in the evening, left with little chance of winning. In London, there is another equally used word, that of “underdog”. And, unfortunately, it is this one that best suits the Northerners after this round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
In the lair of Stamford Bridge, the Mastiffs, beaten 2-0 by Chelsea, were below. Not on the street, not ridiculous, but sent back to their status as intruders in a knockout round of the Champions League. Transfiguring themselves, they were once again capable of it, as during the pool matches against FC Sevilla, Salzburg or Wolfsburg. Only, opposite, this time there were the reigning European and world champions, and it was seen.
The daring bet of Gourvennec
The difference wasn’t stark in the fight, but in the speed and accuracy with which both XIs can choose to step up. The Blues made this leg comfortable thanks to a premature header from Kai Havertz on a corner (8th), abandoned by his vis-à-vis Djalo. Gourvennec’s surprise plan therefore lost its appeal.
By leaving Burak Yilmaz to insert the midfielder Amadou Onana in false number 10, the Breton wanted to densify the midfield so as not to retreat too much and take on water. A daring bet and quickly thwarted by this opener, especially with an Onana of frightening waste with the ball at his feet. Conversely, the Portuguese Renato Sanches put all his talent in the first half to dazzle the game from the wings, this was not enough to create danger in numbers in the area of Édouard Mendy.
“At this level, we cannot give easy balls because the players in front are not going to miss. I’m disappointed because we’re in the game, we have chances, but we have to score. We have the second match and we will prepare to do much better. It will be difficult but we showed tonight that it was possible. We put our game plan in place but the balls lost in a critical area, it’s difficult afterwards, ”regrets captain José Fo
Kanté offers the purpose of breathing
Present in the stands, Didier Deschamps must have appreciated the resources of the reigning French champions, who did not flinch in the second act. He will remember above all how much N’Golo Kanté is still so valuable to the 3rd Premier League club. Thiago Silva’s band did not walk on water, Thomas Tuchel’s gesticulations on the bench reminded him well, but the Frenchman brought the ball up as needed to offer the goal of breathing to Pulisic (63rd ).
Above all, the 1,500 supporters massed in the northern bend did not want to take a suitcase for their big comeback at this level after a first adventure in 2007. They left with less kilos of hope of qualifying in their luggage, but without feeling sham before the home leg on March 16.
It remains to be seen how long they will be entitled to this privilege. Olympique Lyonnais arrives on Sunday evening with the objective for Losc to quickly leave this eleventh place in Ligue 1, terribly unworthy of its European performances.