Di sun dey shine for Kerlir, and di players of FC Lorient dey laugh, dey take selfies, and dey sign autographs. But make no mistake: dis team no dey on holiday. Even though di season almost done, di Merlus dey serious for di match against Strasbourg dis Sunday.
Jean-Victor Makengo, di winger, say, ‘We get four weeks and four matches left, but everybody dey involved, everybody happy. Whether you dey play or you no dey play, we all want to finish di season strong.’
Coach Olivier Pantaloni agree, say di team dey work hard on video analysis and set pieces. ‘We dey keep plenty combativité, energy, and will to win,’ he tok.
Di match go get extra spice: if Lorient win, dem go take di eighth place for Ligue 1 from Strasbourg. Di Alsatians get one match in hand against Brest, but still, di position dey important for Lorient.
Pantaloni admit say di eighth place dey more symbolic, but he add, ‘We want to finish as high as possible. A place na place.’
Lorient don already beat big teams dis season: Monaco, Lyon, Rennes, Lens, and last week, Olympique de Marseille (2-0). Di team no don lose at home since August 30, and dem don score for every match at Moustoir. So di task go hard for Strasbourg.
Di visitors dey come from a disappointment: dem lose 0-2 to Nice for Coupe de France semi-final on Wednesday. Dem still dey focus on Ligue Conférence, where dem go play Rayo Vallecano for semi-final first leg on April 30. Coach Gary O'Neil say, ‘I no get regret for di rotation against Rennes. Di medical staff tok so. Without Barco, Panichelli, and Doué, e dey harder.’ But he also talk say di team go quickly move on: ‘We get match at Lorient for Ligue 1, and especially di Conference League semi-final. We still get chance to write di club history.’
Strasbourg dey eighth for Ligue 1, and dem need to finish di job. Any relaxation go cost dem against Lorient, wey dey one of di big sensations dis season.
Di match go show for Ligue 1+ on Sunday at 3 PM. Di expected lineups: Lorient go field Mvogo; Meïté, Adjei, Faye; Katseris, Cadiou, Abergel, Kouassi; Pagis, Makengo; Dieng. Strasbourg go play Penders; Ouattara, Mwanga, Omobamidele, Högsberg-El Mourabet, Oyedele; Moreira, Enciso, Godo; Emegha.
Pantaloni talk about di opponent: ‘I think di Conference League na dia main objective. But dat no mean dem go slack. For me, dem dey one of di teams wey dey play di most beautiful football for France. Dem get young players with plenty talent.’
Di atmosphere dey light but focused. Di players dey laugh, but dem know say di match go tough. Lorient don show say dem fit beat any team at home. Strasbourg, despite dia European ambitions, no go want to lose dia eighth place easily.
Di question na: which team go show more desire? Di one wey dey fight for European glory, or di one wey dey fight for pride and position? Di answer go come for Moustoir on Sunday.
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