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Axel Allag, Media365, published on Thursday January 13, 2022 at 8:30 p.m.
Launched on a series of two consecutive successes in all competitions, Lens moves to Saint-Étienne on Saturday in Ligue 1 (5 p.m.). Facing the red lantern of the classification, Franck Haise and his defender Kevin Danso expect a difficult match against an opponent in “commando mode” for his maintenance.
Lens got off to a good start in 2022, with qualification for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France following its match against Lille (2-2; 4 shots on goal to 3) then thanks to a success against Rennes in the 89th. minute and the decisive goal of Wesley Saïd (1-0). Saturday, on the occasion of the 21st day of Ligue 1, a trip to the lawn of AS Saint-Étienne awaits the Sang et Or in order to face the bottom of the classification (12 points for the Greens). It will not be an easy meeting to approach, in the eyes of Franck Haise and his defender, Kevin Danso, who confided in a press conference on Thursday.
Maximum focus and “clean sheet” objective for Lens
“Saint-Étienne is on a mission, in commando mode. This team puts a lot of energy on the pitch and has quality in a lot of positions. This is a formidable set piece formation. We will have to be rigorous and stay focused in all areas.”, commented the coach of Lens, who hopes to chain a second match without conceding a goal against the Greens of Pascal Dupraz, which would be a first this season. Arrived six months ago at Racing, Kevin Danso – 17 Ligue 1 games on the clock – followed the same guideline as that of his coach: “We didn’t have much time to take advantage of the two victories against Lille and Rennes. We quickly focused on Saint-Étienne. It will be difficult because they are struggling to maintain”.
The 23-year-old defender also expressed his desire not to concede a goal, while Lens – 28 goals conceded in Ligue 1 – will be opposed to the second least efficient attack in the elite (ASSE scored 17 goals , only Lorient, 15 goals, does worse). “Our main role as a defender is not to concede. We like to do clean sheets! In some matches, especially at the end of 2021, we conceded too many goals. By making more efforts in defense and being a little more aggressive, we managed to keep our clean sheet against Rennes.”, confided Danso.-–
