Lens/PSG – Thauvin opens up on the win, Toppmöller and his goal | OneFootball

This Sunday, as part of the 2026 Trophée des Champions, Paris Saint-Germain faced Lens at Stade Bollaert. Florian Thauvin, the 33-year-old forward for the Lens club, spoke toLigue1+ after Lens’ 1-0 win (Lens/PSG video highlights).

Thauvin: “We’ve got a bit of quality too.”

Does this set up a great season on a very promising foundation?

We worked well, and it’s a continuation of what we did last year. There were a lot of changes, with the loss of important players and the departure of the staff, but we had time to work and put things in place. The most important thing is that we kept our mindset. We’ve got a bit of quality too. That saved us today, and that makes two trophies in one year, so of course we’re बेहद proud of the club.

Does wearing the armband allow you to assert your leadership?

I’m very proud to have this captain’s role. But I didn’t wait until I had the armband last year to take those initiatives. We’re continuing the project and what I came here for. I’m happy to represent the club. We’re doing it pretty well, so that’s cool.

Thauvin: “We want to keep going, press high, win the ball back. Today, it was a bit more difficult.”

What’s your relationship with the coach like?

We have an extraordinary relationship. As soon as he was appointed, he called me right away. We had a long conversation. We really talked things through, and we also had a one-on-one meal together.

I’m an important link for him, especially with the younger players, so I try to repay the trust he gives me. For a player, it’s always important to have that kind of relationship with your coach.

Apparently, the coach is well-liked by a lot of people within the club?

Yes, first official match and there’s already a trophy, that sets the tone and it’s pretty good. He’s a coach who is passionate—that’s the word that defines him best. He lives football and sleeps football. When we ate together, we must have spent two hours talking tactics, about a forward-thinking style of play, even though against PSG it’s always difficult. We want to keep going, press high, win the ball back. Today, it was a bit more difficult.

Thauvin: “It’s an old fox’s goal.”

Explain that goal to us.

I think those are the kind of goals you score through experience. It’s an old fox’s goal. I scored a few like that last year. We know that on shots hit across goal, if it’s not on target, you always have to be there at the far post. That’s what I did, and I was a little worried about being offside, but you always have to believe. It paid off tonight.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.