Lille-Real Madrid: “We lost in advance, there, I have the impression”, quips Thomas Meunier

He is a regular at gala matches who presented himself at a press conference this Tuesday at the Losc training center. On the eve of a historic meeting for the northern club in the Champions League against Real Madrid, Belgian Thomas Meunier, back in Ligue 1 since this summer, was determined. “We lost in advance there, I have the impression,” replied the former Parisian bitterly at the start of the session, when asked about the status of huge favorite of the Madrid club.

The defender knows that the march will be high against the title holders of the competition, but he does not want to make any complexes. “If we think like that before going on the field…,” he says. A few years ago I had the chance to beat them 3-0 at home with PSG (September 18, 2019). We were not favorites and yet we dominated them head and shoulders. Anything can happen, especially here, to Pierre Mauroy. »

The fact remains that to achieve this, the Lille technician will have to do without around ten injuries, including young Ethan Mbappé, injured in the quadriceps and who will in fact miss the reunion on the field with his big brother Kylian. “It was a special match for him,” concedes Genesio. I haven’t seen him since his injury, I’ll see him after the match. Emotionally it will be very hard for him but he will have other opportunities to relive this type of situation, I am sure. »

“A positive result is never impossible”

The presence of his eldest on the field, in the group who arrived in Lille this Tuesday despite an injury last week, remains uncertain. “We prepare for the match with two options,” explains the coach. But whatever happens, above all we prepare for the match against a team and not against a player, otherwise we have to talk about everyone. So to approach the feat, the technician wants to approach “this match without any pressure”. “I think you have to be completely relaxed, very focused. If we lose it will just be very logical, he explains. Any result other than a defeat will be seen as an achievement. We will have to play every shot we have to play to the fullest. »

“The goal is to have fun, to do what you can,” concludes Thomas Meunier. A positive outcome is never impossible. The players are concerned, everyone wants to be there, insists the player. (…) There will probably be an opportunity to take at some point. » Response this Wednesday, October 2 from 9 p.m.