Coach Gillot calms Lens euphoria
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Article summary
"There is work to do," coach Francis Gillot warned as he called on RC Lens to put aside a 7-0 defeat of AJ Auxerre and focus instead on CFR Cluj.
Article body
Tough task
Lens set French football alight on Saturday with a 7-0 victory against AJ Auxerre, but the northern side have to try and put that result behind them to focus on the challenge of their overachieving Romanian rivals.
'All this euphoria'
"There is work to do," Gillot said. "We have to be wary of all this euphoria and pay attention to our attitude. It's human nature to relax." Midfielder Seydou Keita added: "[Gillot] told us that what we have done so far is very good but that we shouldn't forget about Cluj if we wanted to have a great week."
Advantage Lens
Lens have the advantage of an away goal after drawing 1-1 in Romania two weeks ago. Yoann Lachor opened the scoring for the Ligue 1 team midway through the first half, but Cluj have proved resilient throughout the competition and battled back, Cristian Turcu equalising 12 minutes after the restart.
UEFA Cup goal
Gillot will be without the suspended Jérôme Leroy following his first-leg dismissal, but otherwise has an injury-free squad to choose from. He is expected to name a full-strength side as he eyes the goal he came so close to achieving last season - UEFA Cup qualification. "This victory was just the sequel to the second half of last season when we missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup by just three points," Leroy said.
Turcas out
Cluj also enter the evening in form. They sit fifth in the Romanian top flight after winning 3-0 at FC Vaslui on Friday. Unlike Gillot, though, player-coach Dorinel Munteanu has selection problems to contend with. Goalkeeper Petru Turcas has a shoulder complaint and makes way for new boy Martin Tudor, while captain Vasile Jula is doubtful with a leg injury.
Munteanu example
Munteanu, however, will ensure his men do not go down without a fight. He equalled Gheorghe Hagi's record of 125 caps for Romania against Andorra last week, and the veteran will be leading by example at the Stade Félix-Bollaert. "Like in Vaslui, we will play with three strikers," he said. "We are going to France to win and to qualify, even if we know it will be very difficult."
