Lille won the Northern derby with a 1-0 victory against Lens, thanks to Olivier Giroud's goal in the 86th minute. The match, decided only in the final minutes, brought the French club three precious points, but did not completely eliminate the uncertainties that accompanied the start of the season.
Davide Ancelotti, the new coach of Lille, has openly addressed the criticism leveled at the quality of the team's play. In a post-match interview he explained that, being at the beginning of a journey, it is difficult to find balance and maintain consistency. “The criticism was normal, I accept it with equanimity,” he said, underlining that the team is on the right path after the last two or three games and that the men give him a lot of confidence.
The coach also highlighted the positive signals that emerged from the midfield, where the trio of Mukau, Bentaleb and André ensured greater balance. Ancelotti stated that the tactical interpretation of the positions was excellent, but that the definitive solution is not yet defined. “There's always a balance to find,” he added, praising everyone's ability to maintain the pace throughout the match.
In particular, Bentaleb and André showed significant progress athletically. The coach highlighted that their physical condition has improved, allowing them to sustain the required pace. “This ability to maintain pace is very important to us,” he noted.
The result in the derby gave Lille not only three points, but also a dose of confidence. Ancelotti acknowledged the difficulties encountered so far and accepted the criticism, but expressed optimism about the direction the team was taking. The next objective remains continuity and balance, to transform the progress of the last few weeks into stable growth.