Exclusive | Lens’ Adrien Thomasson: ‘We have a competitive team, which, for me, is better than last year.’ | OneFootball

RC Lens are a club transformed this season, with changes in the dugout and on the pitch. To discuss it, captain Adrien Thomasson sat down with Get French Football News, in an interview facilitated by the LFP Media’s international department.

Has the start to Lens’ season been better than you envisaged?

For me, it has been pretty positive because with all of the changes that we have had, be it the manager, the staff, the players, too, I thought that the start of the season would be difficult. But, on the whole, be it in terms of the results or the quality of our play, it’s really not bad! But there are definitely regrets from the match at home against Lyon. I think that we deserved at least a draw. We played PSG at the Parc des Princes and they remain the best team in the league. Even if our performance was encouraging, there is nothing shameful in losing against PSG, especially away from home. We have a big run of games ahead of us, and I hope that we can continue on our march forward.

When players such as Facundo Medina, Neil El Aynaoui, and Andy Diouf left over the summer, did you think that Lens could struggle?

Yeah, of course. We were questioning ourselves because we lost important players from our team, be it young players or experienced players. Naturally, we want to be competitive, we want to be ambitious, so we asked ourselves how it would look this season, and whether the players who replaced those who left would be at the same level. And in this sense, the club worked well because we have a competitive team, which, for me, is better than last year.

Why would you say that Lens are looking better this season?

We are more balanced, I think. We really have profiles of players that we didn’t necessarily have last season, especially in attack. For me, we are a more complete team, but we have to show it on the pitch.

You don’t feel, more generally, that with the exits, there is now less ambition at Lens?

Honestly, no. Through the changes in the sporting management, too, you feel that there is fresh momentum and a positive energy emitted by important people. Even if they haven’t asked us to absolutely finish in the top six or the top seven, or anything like that, you feel the ambition throughout the club.

One of the players who has come in has been Florian Thuavin. Has that been a positive to have a World Cup winner around the squad?

It is magnificent. For me, someone who follows his generation, because we are the same age. I feel lucky to play with a player who was a world champion, who had some big moments in his career. He brings his experience and his calmness, too. In more difficult moments, we feel that he stays calm, and his dribbling and technical quality, his ability to be decisive for the team… but he is still in his adaptation phase. He arrived a month ago, but I am convinced he’ll have a great season with us.

As well as the turnover in the squad, there has also been a managerial change. What has Pierre Sage brought?

He has already brought a lot to the table, a lot of rigour throughout the week in training, in terms of lifestyle rules, all of these things. I think that tactically, he brings something different to what we experienced last season. Of course, you need time, because we have quite a few new players, but the ideas are good, and I would say that his serenity and calmness during the matches are very positive.

What would you say are the differences between his predecessor, Will Still?

It is different. For one, Will Still was someone who was almost our age, so naturally, there was a certain closeness that was more pronounced with him. But in terms of management, Sage has more experience, but, of course, he is 10 years older, so it is simpler. He (Sage) also maintains a certain relationship with the players who maybe play a bit less, and that is important.

How did you experience Still’s surprise departure at the end of last season?

It was a big surprise because we only found out about it on the last day of the season. We didn’t expect it at all. Of course, it was disappointing because, despite everything that we went through in the season, we finished eighth, and we did almost the maximum we could have done. But these are things we can’t control. He explained to us the reasons for his departure. I am someone who tries to understand why decisions are taken, and I respect his decision. In the world of football, there are changes almost every season; there isn’t really stability any more, and you have to deal with it. But I think we had a good season with him, after everything that we went through.

Regardless of the manager at the helm, you’ve always played an important role in the team. What is your role within the squad now?

I have a bit more experience. I am closer to the end of my career than the start. I try to transmit my experience to the younger players. I bring my calmness, too, because I am quite a calm person. I have also found a position on the pitch that perfectly suits me, too. I really enjoy playing a bit deeper, making the link between the attack and the defence. So that is something that really suits my qualities, and wearing the captain’s armband gives me more responsibility, too.

You mentioned your new position, a bit deeper in the midfield. Why do you prefer playing there?

It allows me to get on the ball more, to construct the game, but also to be able to go forward, to get into the box, but to come from further back. This quality of being more box-to-box corresponds with my physical capabilities, being able to repeat high-intensity runs, so I think it is a position that really suits me, and the most important thing is that I enjoy it more, even defensively, winning the ball back; it is something that I enjoy.

And on your leadership qualities, have some of those big-name departures, particularly of more experienced players in recent months, made you more vocal in the dressing room?

It’s a good question. I have never been the player who shouts a lot in the dressing room, because it isn’t really in my personality. But I try to lead by example on the pitch, in training, and through my attitude, too. I try to always be positive because the younger players generally look at how the older players behave, so I am not someone who will take the floor in the dressing room, but I will try to set the example differently.

Going a bit further back in your career, what made you leave Strasbourg to join Lens?

At the time, it was a difficult decision because I had been at Strasbourg for four and a half years. I felt good there, in the city, around the club. But we were 19th (in Ligue 1). It was also difficult leaving a club, knowing that there was the uncertainty of them staying up at the end of the season. So, in my head, it wasn’t easy, but I saw Lens as a real step up. The club were second at the time, in January, but there was no guarantee that they would finish there at the end of the season, but having watched them play a lot, it is a club that spoke to me, in terms of its passion and its history. For me, I really saw a progression on a sporting level, so that is why I decided to join.

You almost immediately experienced European football when you joined Lens. Is the ambition to get back to that level?

Personally, I have that ambition. It is something that motivates me. That is why I get up in the morning, it is to be ambitious and to go after a European qualification. But I am also aware of the economic situation that we are in. I know that there are also some very strong teams in the league, so I take that into account, but you always have to be ambitious in your career, in life more generally, so I hope we will finish as high as possible.

We feel that every match is difficult, bar PSG, who have won their first four matches. We have six points, the second has 10 points, and the third [placed side] has nine. It is very tight so that is why it will be good to go on good runs. As the manager said, not to lose twice in a row is something that is very important, and so we can’t wait for this weekend to bounce back well.

You have been in Ligue 1 for a decade. Are there any changes that you have noted over that time?

There have been lots of changes. Honestly, I can talk about it for a long time! There are lots more young players who are playing. When I started, it was very rare for a young player to play in Ligue 1. It is also the economic reality. From a technical point of view, I think we have lost technicality. Before, 10 years ago, there were players who, in my opinion, were more technical than they are today. But, on the other hand, physically and in terms of intensity, it is now a lot more demanding. Before, there were good players, but I feel that the game was a bit slower, less quick than it is today, because the young players are explosive, quick, dynamic, so it favours intensity in matches. But from a tactical point of view, there are a lot more teams that try to play the ball out, who clear their lines very little. From goal kicks, the goalkeepers go short, even the central defenders, whereas I remember that when there was a goal kick, you all went up and ‘kick and rush’, like in England 15/20 years ago.

Do you think generally that football is becoming less technical as a sport, leaning more towards physical prowess and intensity?

Exactly. It is good that young players are playing, but on a technical level, they are trained less, and they are more trained from a physical perspective. So that is why we see games with a lot of intensity, lots of losses of possession; that is football today. I am convinced that technical players, because there are still a lot of them, still have their card to play.

On the upcoming derby against Lille, could the mythic Bollaert atmosphere prove decisive?

It is a special match, even more so when we play at home. With the supporters, we know that the atmosphere will be feverish, and as players, the rivalry with Lille exists, and we are dead set on beating them, for ourselves, for the club, and for the supporters. We are expecting a difficult match, and we hope that it will be difficult for them, too.

For us, Bollaert gives us extra strength. I often have friends who play for the opposing tea,m and they are always apprehensive to play in Lens, to play at the Bollaert. From a mental point of view, it is a bonus, and we try to play on that to win the maximum amount of matches.

You have just one year remaining on your current deal. Is your ambition to remain at Lens?

The ambition that interests me is enjoying myself on a daily basis, and I am. I’m not looking too far forward to what will happen in the season. The most important thing is to play, to enjoy myself, and then we will see. At some point, there will be talks with the club, but I’m not getting worked up. I trust in life, in the future, so there is no worry about that.

You once said that you one day wished to play abroad. Does that remain the case?

It is always something that has tempted me to play abroad. But I don’t want to go abroad, just to go abroad because I already go there on holiday (laughs)! We will see what opportunities there are or are not. I have always wanted to, but I can’t rule out playing my whole career in France, in Ligue 1 more specifically. I am open to everything and I’m not closing any door, so we’ll see. Wait and see.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle