Lille steeled for Manchester ordeal

Stuttering start
Runners-up in the French top flight last season, Claude Puel's team have made a stuttering start to the current campaign. Sitting a disappointing ninth in Ligue 1, they have claimed just one point from their first two UEFA Champions League matches and currently prop up the Group D standings.

Daunting prospect
Given Lille's lack of experience and their current predicament, a trip to Old Trafford could be regarded as a daunting prospect, but Debuchy is relishing the opportunity to play in England's largest club stadium. "Considering how hard we worked to get into the Champions League, I'm really savouring these games," the midfield player told uefa.com. "Before this season the Champions League for me was something that only happened on television. To be playing big matches at the Estádio da Luz, the Stade de France and now Old Trafford is fantastic."

'A tough start'
While some have written off Lille's qualification chances already, Debuchy is hoping to prolong the adventure for as long as possible. "We've had a tough start, but we're still targeting a place in the next round," he said. "To do that we need to avoid defeat at Old Trafford. That won't be easy because, even if they're not in top form, they still have great players like [Ruud] van Nistelrooij and [Cristiano] Ronaldo. But we have our own qualities and we've got nothing to lose. I don't think it's impossible for us to take something from the game."

Homegrown talent
Lille will need to rediscover the spirit of last season if they are to upset Sir Alex Ferguson's team. Their squad consists mainly of homegrown talent, with Debuchy part of an exciting generation of youngsters to have been integrated into the first team by coach Puel in recent years. He has risen through the club's youth ranks, having first represented Lille at Under-9 level, and has played with many of his team-mates, including the captain Stéphane Dumont, for several years now.

Strong unit
The fact that so many friends were blooded at the same time helped Lille form a strong collective unit last term. "We were as surprised as everyone else by last year's success," Debuchy said. "We were a young team, but we knew each other well and we enjoyed playing together."

Emergency meeting
Puel called an emergency meeting last week to ask his players why their performances are not matching those of last season. Debuchy believes it is down to a combination of factors. "The biggest reason is that last season we were an unknown quantity, whereas these days our opponents are ready for us," he said. "It's up to us to find different tactics so that we can surprise people once more. We've also had injuries, while other teams strengthened their squads in the summer."

Lyon example
Already nine points behind leaders Olympique Lyonnais, Lille seem unlikely to improve on last season's second place. "Lyon look as though they will win the title again, even if it's early days," Debuchy said. "They're a cut above everybody else in France. They've put together a strong squad and are competing with the top clubs in Europe. Lyon are the model we need to follow." Depriving United of a victory tonight would be a step in the right direction.