Injuries leave Lens centre-backs stretched before OL quarter-final | OneFootball

Lens visit OL in the Coupe de France quarter-final on Thursday at 21:10 with their centre-backs stretched by injuries. According to L'Équipe, they hope to push on both domestic fronts.

Samson Baidoo, close to returning after a hamstring relapse, is again out at Groupama Stadium, exposing the thin pool. After Jonathan Gradit’s double tibia-fibula fracture in late November, Lens weighed an experienced loan before opting for academy pair Ismaëlo Ganiou, 20, and Kyllian Antonio, 18.

An observer deems that a misjudgement by the new hierarchy, citing three straight starts for Nidal Celik, who was not even a reserve regular. The same voice questions signing Arthur Masuaku at left when Anthony Bermont already covers Matthieu Udol.

With Baidoo out and Antonio sidelined with a foot issue, coach Pierre Sage has turned to Celik, a Bosnian signed for €2.5m from FK Sarajevo by the previous regime. He started the 5-0 win at Paris FC on 14 February and Sage values an extra right-footed option.

Despite three goals conceded in under 10 minutes in the 2-3 defeat to Monaco on 21 February and a costly error from the otherwise impressive Ganiou in the 1-1 draw at Strasbourg on Friday, Sage is not changing the high defensive approach. He says the mistakes were mostly individual, aside from Monaco’s third, and that the set-up unsettled both sides. Ganiou’s load has grown, with Arthur Masuaku praising his duel hunger and composure, saying he reacted well and could progress quickly.

Source: L'Équipe