What if this divine intuition made the difference on December 12, when it comes time to do the math in Pool B? We were playing the 63rd minute this Tuesday evening when Franck Haise decided to change his eleven. Lens has been trailing 0-1 for five minutes against PSV Eindhoven, their men are thwarting, it’s time to bring in some new blood. These changes particularly concern the attack.
Elye Wahi is the first to see his jersey number appear on the fourth official’s screen. He trots with his head down towards Wesley Saïd when, faltering, the latter tells him to turn around. Franck Haise has just changed his mind and finally leaves Sotoca. We know the rest. The International Espoirs (20 years old) snatched the equalizer two minutes later with a perfect volley from a Frankowski cross. A flash in a very complicated individual performance which offers the point of a draw to the Sang et Or (1-1), now 2nd in Pool B.
“I changed my mind because I felt that even if it had been complicated, he could score a goal. Sometimes things happen that we can’t explain. He knew he had to go out,” confirmed the Artesian technician after the meeting.
Indeed, Elye Wahi was stammering in his football until now. Very little found in depth – his first quality -, uninspired in his dribbling, the former Montpellier did not give his coach any satisfaction in his pressing efforts. “Obviously, there are a whole number of imperfections but at the same time, his goal is a difficult, very difficult gesture and he is there to show us,” emphasized Franck Haise. We will have to work with him to make it even clearer in our defensive animation. We need everyone and everyone specific. »
“He had a little trigger that made him wait a little”
Questioned by Canal +, Elye Wahi also commented on this postponed replacement since he will finally leave the pitch in the 72nd minute. “The coach told me that I had to go out but I think he had a little trigger that made him wait a little. »
This breakthrough allows him to rank well in the C1 scorers’ rankings with two goals in three matches. A reason for satisfaction even if his understanding and application of Haise’s principles still prove to be imperfect. The most expensive recruit in the club’s history (35 million euros spent this summer), Wahi is however not the only culprit, far from it. Florian Sotoca and Angelo Fulgini, too neutral with the ball, also disappointed against Eindhoven.
Franck Haise pointed out this difficulty in “liberating oneself offensively and finding the right fuel in the animation”. His mission now consists of finding solutions in this sector of the game before the return match against Eindhoven on November 8. Because on the Dutch side, the game promises to be just as rough and choppy and the Bollaert crowd will not be there this time to push for the equalizer.
