Lille OSC have a one-goal deficit to make up when Aston Villa visit the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday. The Premier League side beat Les Dogues 2-1 at Villa Park last week in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final and as a result, Lille will have to be “perfect” in order to qualify, according to star striker Jonathan David (24).
Bafodé Diakité’s goal late on last Thursday certainly gives Lille hope going into the second leg. Les Nordistes have, unlike Aston Villa, who played Arsenal on Sunday, had a week to rest, recuperate and prepare for the encounter. The club’s match against AS Monaco was postponed by the LFP as part of an initiative to bolster French club’s chances of progressing in European competition. “It will help us,” said David in relation to the initiative.
However, the Canada international is under no allusions – if Lille are to qualify at Aston Villa’s expense, they will have to be “perfect”.
“We’ll have to be perfect, not miss our chances and find those little details that will make the difference. Aston Villa aren’t fourth in the Premier League for nothing. It means something. I saw the match against Arsenal (2-0) and it proves the extent to which this team are difficult to beat. We’ll have to take even the smallest chances,” said David in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
