In this great game of chess that is the tactical preparation of a match, how to try to surprise each time, a fortiori when you have to chain two games in the same week?
On Wednesday, RC Lens was able to do it masterfully by trapping Monaco in the 34th second, while Niko Kovac’s team no doubt expected a cautious departure from the Lensois and their lower positioning, as was the case during his previous trip to Rennes.
Quite the opposite has happened. ” We knew that Monaco could attack very hard. But we also knew that we too could cause them problems with the engagement … », Reveals strategist Franck Haise.
It’s well played, but we imagine that Frédéric Antonetti and the Metz staff have had the time to analyze all this under the microscope. And that the Garnets will be particularly on their guard when the referee kicks off this Saturday night.
“Everyone tries to add a little salt …”
So, how to surprise? And is it really a goal every time? Certainly, assures Franck Haise. ” Each coach works with his staff so that there are always small adaptations depending on the problems that the opponent may pose and adaptations to cause him problems., indicates the coach. What I mean is that there is a basis, clear principles. And next to each other, everyone tries to add a little salt, a little pepper, a little more pepper … So that we are not too readable or that we are as difficult as possible. »
In the age of video, burst statistics, spyware, real-time analysis, the search for the famous smallest detail or the hypothetical flaw is in reality a huge conquest that puts man back at the center Game.
Thus, Franck Haise and his staff have themselves already looked into Metz for a while. On the plane back from Monaco, but even before. ” Wednesday afternoon, I was watching Metz. I had watched Monaco enough, I knew what to expect. I was focused on Metz which I had already watched last weekend », Explains the coach.
So how is Lens going to go about surprising this time? First, in the choice of men to hold the standoff with a very athletic Metz team, very talented on set pieces and which opens little, noted the Lensois staff.
It will be played out in the details in the animation, the positioning of the attackers depending on where we want to fix the defense, that of the pistons, the organization of the triangle in the middle, etc. With, among all the principles this season, the most unchanging of all in Franck Haise’s mind: “ We play all the games to win them. And to win them, you have to score. »
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