Lille (AFP)

Two European triplets in two weeks: this performance, worthy of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, is the work of Lillois Yusuf Yazici, hero of the feat achieved Thursday in Milan (3-0) and symbol of an uninhibited Losc who foresees the round of 16 of the Europa League.

Fourteen days after punishing Sparta Prague (4-1) for Lille's entry into contention on the continental stage, the player with the ponytail did it again at San Siro by defeating AC Milan under Zlatan Ibrahimovic with three new goals.

And yet Yazici is rarely the holder in Ligue 1, where Christophe Galtier's Mastiffs are still undefeated and point to second place, two lengths behind the leader, Paris SG ...

Arrived in the North in August 2019 with the heavy baggage of being the most expensive rookie in the club's history, a record broken shortly after by the Portuguese Renato Sanches, the former Trabzonspor player had a very difficult first season. Lille between average performances and rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee just before Christmas.

"I had a lot of discussions with Yusuf at the start of the season to explain that you don't come back easily from a serious injury, especially after a long break without training. He worked a lot, he was stopped in his tracks, in his determination. He's a player who was frustrated because he has a lot of character ", explained Galtier after the success in Prague.

- Yilmaz, the "big brother" -

Yazici, disappointed that he was not playing enough for his taste, sometimes showed signs of impatience.

But without ever questioning publicly the choices of his coach.

"I had discussions sometimes soothing, sometimes engaged. But I always told him that he was an important player on whom I relied a lot because he had characteristics that the others did not have", detailed the technician northerner.

With already 24 caps with Turkey to his credit at only 23 years old, Yazici has become essential in his country.

And the arrival in Lille this summer of Burak Yilmaz, captain of the national team, seemed to liberate the versatile player, who can evolve into a playmaker, on one side or as a striker.

"The fact that Zeki (Celik, the Turkish defender) stayed and the arrival of Burak, who is like a big brother, was very beneficial. He has a lot of experience and he is very listened to and respected", emphasizes Galtier .

"That's exactly what he needed," predicted Yilmaz after his compatriot's hat-trick in Prague.

"He had an injury, he was trying to come back well and he had a really good comeback. That's exactly what he needed to regain his confidence."

- Lille has grown up -

From now on, Galtier will have a hard time doing without Yazici in his starting XI, even if the sequence of matches encourages the technician to be cautious.

And the course of Losc proves him right with good results despite the changes made and no injuries to deplore despite an infernal pace.

Like Jonathan Bamba, transfigured and decisive this season (already 4 goals and 4 assists in L1) or the exemplary captain José Fonte, also returned to his best, Lille detonates this fall.

And the way to a European spring seems clear: with seven points in Group H of the Europa League, and four lengths ahead of Sparta Prague (3rd, 3 pts), the Northerners are launched towards the round of 16 of the l 'test.

And to think that just a year ago, the Mastiffs were already eliminated from the Champions League after taking only one point in four games, and they were fifth in the league because they were struggling to link L1 and C1. .

Of course, there is still a long way to go, but the Losc has certainly grown.

What to aim high this year?

© 2020 AFP