Dino Toppmöller’s rousing team talk after Lens beat PSG to win Trophée des champions | OneFootball

Dino Toppmöller delivered an uplifting dressing-room address after Lens beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to win the Trophée des champions at Bollaert on Sunday night. Captain and goalscorer Florian Thauvin took the acclaim as the German marked his first silverware since arriving in early summer.

According to L'Équipe, Lens played close to an hour with a man fewer and withstood 23 PSG attempts. Their resolve underpinned a hard-earned win at the start of Toppmöller’s tenure.

In the dressing room he told his players that everyone now understands what Lens are, that they fear nobody and that at home they can beat anyone. He said he had asked only for greater hunger than the opponent and that he had seen it in full.

Toppmöller added that seasons bring big moments and quieter spells, but that he trusts every player and staff member. He said he would never doubt, urged them not to either, and maintained they are strong and could achieve fine things if they show the same spirit.

With Pierre Sage gone, Lens turned to the 45-year-old two months ago. Algerian Yacine Titraoui even acted as live translator for Saudi team-mate Saud Abdulhamid as Toppmöller spoke in careful French. The performance and his message looked enough to seal the squad’s trust on an already unifying night.

Source: L'Équipe

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