Lens coach Franck Haise and Florian Sotoca preview UEFA Champions League clash with Arsenal
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00:00 Can you please just tell us something about injuries?
00:07 Well, the group should be almost the same as for Strasbourg.
00:19 I'm sorry, the sound is really bad, so I can't translate.
00:22 I can't hear properly.
00:41 In the Premier League and Champions League, you'll face one of the greatest teams, which has a lot of experience.
00:55 Do you think that is one of the best challenges you'll have to face in your whole career?
01:06 In Champions League, of course. Obviously, it's a big challenge.
01:14 The quality of the team, the experience of the team, their past, the present, it's a big challenge, obviously.
01:28 We might be of a different level, but we faced great players, great teams, the Ligue 1 champions.
01:42 I'm really sorry, the sound is not good enough to translate.
01:49 We haven't played for 20 years at our stadium. In Champions League, obviously, it's a great emotion, a great feeling to be back.
02:05 It won't be easy, but it's been honest to try to showcase our best game, the best version of ourselves, and we'll try to really make them struggle against us.
02:32 After the game against Sevilla, how are you preparing this game? 15 days later, you're not the same. You won a game in Ligue 1.
02:45 How are you approaching the game differently?
02:51 Obviously, wins help. They gave you confidence, so a lot of confidence for the whole squad, but at the same time, you know that we've been struggling.
03:10 But thanks to that game, not only, but thanks to that game, I think that we've shown that we're up for the challenge, for the Champions League challenge.
03:29 It's not a mistake that we're playing there, you know.
03:35 Since the beginning of the season, the content of the games was good. The results weren't necessarily, but we have a lot of quality and great features within the team.
03:56 We've shown it against Sevilla. We were able to come back, even though we weren't able to secure the win.
04:08 I think that since the beginning of the season, it's better maybe against Monaco. We couldn't make it. We weren't there.
04:19 But whether it's Paris or at home, I think that the content, the performance of the team is great.
04:42 Two questions. In Sevilla, we've seen the beginning of the game. Do you think it was a good thing to start your Champions League journey away?
04:57 I'm sorry, I can't pick up the end of the sentence.
05:03 Yes, we knew that it's never easy in Sevilla. We know they're very experienced in the Champions League. They know how to face this game, approach this game.
05:18 We knew that we weren't. But as we said, it's a big competition and you can't make no mistakes there. So we have nothing to lose.
05:30 I think it was a positive thing for us. We'll try in every game what we're made of.
05:37 We can't fear things. The only fear that we might have, even though it's not really a fear, is to not be able to show what we're really made of, to show our true self.
05:52 And in the end, against Sevilla, it wasn't the case. So it was a good thing.
05:56 So this competition, we are here. Obviously, we can't compare to Arsenal.
06:17 But what I want you to know is, we should play as we played against Sevilla. Even though the beginning of the match wasn't as great as we expected, I think that we showed good things.
06:32 So I think that the reaction of the team, the comeback that we made, was a good thing.
06:37 I can't hear a thing. I'm really sorry. I can't interpret the answer.
06:59 So what we'll try to do, obviously, is a great player. The qualities, I'm really sorry, but there are people speaking over the voice of the manager.
07:25 So it's impossible to translate. The sound is not good enough.
07:50 Well, obviously, we faced some difficulties. So to play a Champions League game here at home, it's something that should be nice, that you should enjoy.
08:08 To bring it back here, the most important thing is to play the game, not just watch the other team, but play, be a great actor of the game.
08:19 Two years ago, last year, we had very strong games with a great atmosphere with the crowd. So that's what we're expecting tomorrow. I'm sure it will be great.
08:43 He's on mute.
08:58 Do you think that you have a responsibility? As a player, you did some great things. You got great results at some point. So do you think that's part of your responsibility as well?
09:21 So obviously, the jersey is a reminder of history and about the gold colour. It's our past. It's our history. But the red, the blood is kind of different.
09:36 Because we need to think about the present, not only the past. The present is the team that was able, that were able to secure the qualification, the Champions League pass.
09:53 What's sure is that we're going to play those games to win them. So that's our main focus. Obviously, there's great quality on our opponents, but we really want to win. We're really trying to win those games.
10:17 So there are different elements that will be there, but to have a good game, to propose a good style of play and try to win those games once again.
10:30 Hi, coach. You said you'd be propositive to showcase things on your side of the game. Do you think that you'll stick to your plans or you'll change something without saying anything?
10:52 Well, position is something specific. It might be important, but there are other aspects that are as important, and it's not only based on that that you will be able to win a game.
11:11 It depends on the quality. We're really trying to make them struggle against us. I hope that we'll have the capacity to manage the game as well, but the battle won't be on position.
11:29 Please don't touch the microphone. Question to Florian.
11:46 What's the difference between a game in Champions League and a game in Champions League?
11:59 The focus, you have to be focused 100%. You know that those are teams that are well experienced in Europe, whether it's Sevilla, PSV or Arsenal.
12:15 They know how to play in Champions League, and we were the underdogs of the group. But we can't fear anything. We don't have to have any complex about that or be insecure because we know our game, we know how to play.
12:36 So we shouldn't be scared. We have convictions, we know how to play, we know what we're able to do. And as I said, we really need to show our own self and show what we're made of and what we're capable of tomorrow and to end the game with no regrets.
13:05 Question for Frank.
13:13 I'm sorry, the sound is really poor.
13:26 Yes.
13:34 Honestly, I received a message, but this is not about the past.
13:49 There are some fans that knew and lived those games that happened more than 20 years ago. So now we're really trying to build our own momentum, to build our own and write our own history.
14:18 Do you think that the game against Arsenal and - sorry, I can't pick up everything - and do you think that the fact that they're playing against Man City on Sunday will be a factor for the team?
14:39 Well, the pitch will tell us what will happen.
14:47 But obviously, on a technical level, what has been created by manager Michael Arteta is very strong. So we can think that Arsenal is superior, is better than us or stronger than us.
15:10 They just won 4-0 last week against PSV, but I don't know what will happen tomorrow.
15:23 Question for Florian.
15:52 I'm really sorry, but they're speaking over the sound. So someone is speaking over the floor.
16:07 If they keep speaking over the floor, I can't say anything. I'm really sorry.
16:17 There is no sound whatsoever now. So I'm really sorry, but the sound is gone.
16:44 So I can't translate anything.
16:53 Very sorry, until they don't fix it.
16:59 We need to be focused on the pitch. That's the only thing that matters, as the manager said. So we'll see what happens at the end of those 90 minutes.
17:09 So we really try to showcase our own way of playing.
17:17 It's a pleasure to be here. I've said it two weeks ago, I'm saying it again. To welcome this game at Bollard in our stadium, in our home. It's adrenaline, it's just positive vibes.
17:37 We're really focusing on the positive.
17:43 No other questions? Thank you very much.
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