(Lens, France, 2026-01-04) – Lens forward Florian Thauvin revealed his team deliberately responded to perceived aggressive tactics by Toulouse during their January 2 match by “taking them at their own game,” which included a provocative gesture towards Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell.
Florian Thauvin of Lens described a strategic response to what his team perceived as aggressive play from Toulouse during a Ligue 1 match on January 2.
- Florian Thauvin admitted to sticking his tongue out at Charlie Cresswell of Toulouse after scoring a goal.
- Thauvin said Lens decided to respond to Toulouse’s aggressive play with similar tactics during the match.
- Lens is currently guaranteed to be the fall champion in Ligue 1, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
The incident occurred during Lens’ 3-0 victory over Toulouse, opening the 17th day of Ligue 1. Thauvin explained on the Ligue 1+ show The Club that Toulouse players were “very aggressive and very quiet” throughout the first half, and that the team realized it was a intentional strategy to try and provoke a red card from Lens.
“We said to ourselves that we were going to take them at their own game,” Thauvin said. “That was the response and it worked because in the match we did not take a card while he (Cresswell) takes a yellow on the action.”
Thauvin also stated that he believed Cresswell was “limited at the back” and that his team had experience in using such tactics to their advantage. “With experience, if it can help the team, we did it a lot,” he added.
Background and Context
The exchange between Thauvin and Cresswell began earlier in the match when the lensois demanded a penalty. Thauvin then stuck his tongue out at Cresswell after Lens opened the scoring,a gesture captured on video and widely discussed in French sports media.Adrien Thomasson, a Lens midfielder, supported Thauvin’s actions, stating that the team had agreed to confront Cresswell after scoring. “We said to ourselves that the first goal we woudl score, we had to go see him and say a few words to him,” Thomasson explained on Ligue 1+. “It was (Thauvin) who sacrificed himself for us. I am proud of him because he remained very calm despite the stroller and the chamber.”
“We said to ourselves that we were going to take them at their own game. That was the response and it worked.” – Florian Thauvin, Lens forward
The victory secured Lens’ position as the fall champion of ligue 1, guaranteeing they will finish the first half of the season ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by RMC Sport and added
