Jean-Louis Gasset: "Get back to work"

How do you explain this setback against Lille?

The plan was to really contain Lille and above all to not leave them any openings because this is a team that knows how to exploit them. At half time, we had managed to even the score but when you find yourself behind 2-1, you’re obliged to take risks and to make offensive changes in order to throw yourselves into the fight to tie the game. With quick players like Bamba and Pépé, they’re the ones who Lille looks for. These are two high-level players, which is something that we’ll be reminded of all year.

What was your team lacking in order to have done better?

We should have had technical control of the game in the middle of the field so that they couldn’t counter us. Unfortunately, by scoring a goal at the 47th minute, Lille put themselves in their comfort zone. They leave you the ball and they have 40 metres on your turf to do you harm. At that moment, the objective is to really hold on and then, to have players step onto the field to take the ball deep into enemy territory. We had to do it a bit earlier than expected, that’s what made us leave openings and concede a third goal.

After three consecutive victories, we imagine that you’re disappointed.

Evidently, but there were uncertainties with the team. Whether it’s Debuchy or Silva, the lack of a right-back is an unlikely combination of factors. So, we had to start someone (William Saliba) but I have no regrets about it. At 17 and a half years of age, finding oneself defending against Bamba is very good experience. He’s going to become a great player.

Does the physical state of your team explain Lille’s domination?

In the first half, I found that my team lost countless balls very easily but maybe the three matches we played last week took a toll on us and maybe it’s because we lost our edge. So we’re going to get back to work.

What is your assessment of your team’s journey?

You can’t treat every loss like a catastrophe. We lost two matches, in Paris and in Lille. We have 15 points which should put us in 5th or 6th place at the end of the day. We’ll prepare as best we can for the match against Rennes which will take place after the international break.