A new cluster in L1. After Bordeaux, it is Lille's turn to be affected by the Covid. This Monday, 24 hours from the derby in Lens in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, the reigning French champion announced that he had seven Covid-positive players in his workforce. “We had four cases of Covid which turn into seven cases of Covid. We retested the players today and there were three more positive ones, said coach Jocelyn Gourvennec at the press conference. The club has chosen not to communicate the names so we will not give them out. We will not be able to give a group this evening (Monday) because we will retest the players tomorrow morning (Tuesday).The northern press cited defender Domagoj Bradaric and forwards Jonathan David and Isaac Lihadji among the infected players but Losc did not wish to confirm.
"There is a key word today, it is to adapt"
It is therefore a greatly diminished team that will appear at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium, especially in the offensive sector, with the hope of taking revenge after the loss in the league (1-0) on September 18.
Lille will, in fact, already be deprived of Timothy Weah, Zeki Celik (injured), and Burak Yilmaz (suspended), plus Jonathan Ikoné transferred to Fiorentina (Serie A) during the winter transfer window.
“There is a key word today, it is to adapt, so we will continue to adapt and play while being determined, with a desire to go to qualify, insists Jocelyn Gourvennec.
We will have a competitive team and a very young bench, but at the same time, for the younger ones, it is good that they integrate the group.
They will bring us their ardor.
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After a failed start to the season, Lille has seriously raised the bar for two months since the Mastiffs are undefeated in the last 11 games in all competitions.
This great series allowed them to go back to 8th place in L1, to secure their ticket for the knockout stages of the Champions League where they will challenge the defending champion Chelsea (go on February 22 in London and return on March 16) and to qualify for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France that Lille have not won since their double in 2011.
