Reigning champion of France, Lille is no longer in the race for the Champions League. Beaten (1-2) Wednesday March 16 by Chelsea, in the round of 16 second leg, the northern club said goodbye to a European competition that has often given it a smile this season.
However, everything had not started ideally in the group stage. With no wins in the first three meetings, the start was cause for concern. However, the Mastiffs reversed the situation to finish at the top of group G. It was a prestigious victory on the lawn of Sevilla FC (1-2), which paved the way for two other successes, when receiving Salzburg (1-0) then a trip to Wolfsburg (1-3).
This success put the northern club on the path to an 11-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Some were able to speak of luck, with an affordable group. But the Northerners have shown they have character.
Lille can also say that it then lacked success during the famous double draw for the round of 16. Each time, Jocelyn Gouvernnec’s men inherited the defending champion.
On the ground, again, everything started badly, with a clear defeat in the first leg on February 22. The Pierre-Mauroy stadium still believed in it on Wednesday. The tifos and songs were in the game… Once again, Lille seemed to be able to reverse the trend, with Burak Yilmaz opening the score in the 38th minute. A goal from the Blues just before half-time, then a second in the 71st minute put an end to the dream.
“We still believed it until 45 minutes from the end of the match“, told Karl at the exit of the stadium. The latter preferred to rejoice in the performances of his proteges: “We stood up to them and that’s very good for Losc.“Same echo in the mouth of Mickael, who came to attend all C1 matches at home:”We were all given as losers but the players gave their all and showed our values. We weren’t expected there and it’s already a source of pride to get there.“Jocelyn Gourvennec, the trainer, was going in the same direction:”The course is successful, it was magnificent and was in any case successful before the round of 16. Players can come out with their heads held high”
This course also offered Amadou Onana, the Dogues midfielder, a great moment of emotion: “It was a magical moment, which I would like to relive. If we play football, it’s for moments like this“, he slipped after the elimination in the round of 16.
Despite the desire and more consistent performances than in the league, Lille suffered two setbacks against the Blues. It will be necessary to keep these values to return to the European places in the championship, those which open the way to new evenings of celebrations.