The 37-year-old Italian tactician steps into his first senior managerial role in European football with a clear mandate to inject pace and renewed energy into a squad that finished third last season but struggled heavily in the final third during the second half of the campaign.
Despite securing a top-three finish, Lille managed only 52 goals overall in the previous Ligue 1 season, with just 19 of those coming during the return phase. That offensive drop-off made Les Dogues the lowest scorers among the top eight teams in the division. Speaking ahead of the season opener at the Domaine de Luchin press room, club captain Benjamin André acknowledged those lingering shortcomings from the prior months.
“We know it, that’s what we missed at times last season,” André admitted to reporters on Friday, though the veteran midfielder is suspended for Sunday’s trip to face Angers.
Establishing the Ancelotti Method: Speed and Width
To fix the team’s attacking stiffness, Davide Ancelotti has centered his tactical blueprint on high-tempo ball movement and transitional speed.
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“He insisted a lot on the speed of play,” André said of his new manager’s training ground demands. “We have players who are strong in one-on-one situations, who are fast, and it’s true that at times, in breaking down the opponent’s defensive block, we took a bit too much time to make the opening last season. We focused more on two-on-ones, three-on-twos on the flanks, trying to put more speed, more enthusiasm into it.”
Ancelotti echoed those sentiments when addressing the media regarding his team’s identity. The Italian manager stressed that Lille must leverage the natural characteristics of its wide players, which include Tiago Santos, Félix Correia, Osame Sahraoui, Basar Onal, Ethan Mbappé, Gaëtan Perrin, and Noah Edjouma. “We must be a team that plays with rhythm compared to the characteristics of the offensive players we have on the sides,” Ancelotti stated.
Navigating Squad Constraints and Transfer Rumors
While the club’s flanks boast substantial depth, the central striking department presents immediate challenges for Sunday’s 3:00 PM kickoff on Ligue 1+. Belgian international Matias Fernandez-Pardo is suspended for the fixture against Angers after missing the entire preseason amid reports indicating his desire to leave the club. Olivier Létang previously pushed back against departure rumors in late July, expressing confidence in the forward’s potential.
“We are very happy to have Matias, we are counting on him, he has crazy qualities and we hope he will have a great season with us,” Létang noted earlier in the summer. Ancelotti maintained a pragmatic stance on the situation, confirming that Fernandez-Pardo would have traveled with the squad for Sunday’s match if not for his suspension.
Meanwhile, long-term absentee Hamza Igamane continues his rehabilitation following a cruciate ligament injury sustained in January during the Africa Cup of Nations final. Medical staff do not expect the forward to return to full collective training until the autumn.
Giroud Leads the Line Despite Preseason Scare
With limited natural options through the center, veteran striker Olivier Giroud is in line to lead the attack against Angers. The former France international, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on September 30, featured during the summer friendlies alongside 19-year-old Soriba Diaoune.
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Giroud sparked concern on August 15 during Lille’s final preseason friendly against Everton when he suffered a left knee torsion and limped off the pitch prematurely. However, Ancelotti eased fears during his Friday press conference, confirming that the former top scorer for the Bleus with 57 goals is fully fit and available.
“It was reassuring because we were scared when we saw the movement and the pain he had,” Ancelotti said. “He is going to be ready.”
Lille travels to face Angers this Sunday at 15:00, with live broadcast coverage scheduled on Ligue 1+.
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