RC Lens is preparing to face LOSC in the first Northern derby of the season, which will be played on Friday 9:05 p.m. Coach Yannick Cahuzac held his press briefing on Wednesday to inform the media and supporters of the state of the group before this crucial trip.
During the conference, Cahuzac detailed the absences weighing on the team. In addition to the presence of Jonathan Gradit, who returns after a muscle injury, the club must count on the availability of its remaining players. However, Ismaëlo Ganiou, Maik Nawrocki and Abdallah Sima will be absent. Ganiou, who underwent surgery, is back at La Gaillette, which delighted the coach. Nawrocki also remains unavailable, as does Sima, reducing lineup choice.
The most important news mentioned by Cahuzac concerns Odsonne Édouard. The Artesian club announced that the striker had suffered from chronic pain since the start of the season. On Wednesday morning, he underwent a small surgical procedure to relieve this pain and allow him to regain his level of performance. Cahuzac stressed that the operation will keep him away from the field for several weeks, but that the staff and the club will fully support him for a rapid return. He added that the former Crystal Palace player is very demanding of his performance and is determined to get back fit.
Despite these challenges, the coach expressed optimism about the team's composition for the derby. He mentioned that, apart from the absences already mentioned, the rest of the group is available and ready to play. Gradit's return is also a major plus, as he has missed the last four games due to injury.
As the match approaches, Lens will therefore have to compensate for the absences of Ganiou, Nawrocki and Sima while managing the situation of Odsonne Édouard. The team is preparing to face LOSC in a duel which counts for the ninth day of Ligue1, and supporters are waiting to see how coach Cahuzac will adjust his squad to maximize the chances of victory.