Algerian contingent set for high-stake Europa League meeting in Bern

Nabil Bentaleb, Aïssa Mandi and Jaouen Hadjam will find themselves on opposite sides this evening as Young Boys of Bern host LOSC Lille in a decisive Europa League group fixture at the Wankdorf Stadium.

The match, part of the final round of group-stage games, marks the first competitive encounter between the two clubs.

Hadjam, who has been in strong form for Young Boys, outlined his ambitions as he spoke to the media on the eve of the game.

The Algerian defender insisted his side remain optimistic about securing qualification.

I’m not going to say it’s going well. We need 4 to 6 points to be sure of qualifying in 3 matches. But it’s doable. It’s not impossible. In terms of points, we can do it. We have two home games and I’m positive, I’m optimistic, even if they’re against good teams, they’re going to be big, intense matches. We have all the qualities to go and get those points, Hadjam said.

He also singled out compatriot Bentaleb as a major threat in the Lille midfield, praising his influence on Paulo Fonseca’s side.

Nabil is the one who runs the Lille midfield… The player we need to watch out for? I’d say (Nabil) Bentaleb, who’s my compatriot on the national team. He’s a very good player in midfield. He controls pretty much the whole midfield. He’s the team’s balance, I think. He’s a very good player. He distributes a lot of balls when we’re playing out from the back. He’s important. So, we’ll have to watch out for Bentaleb, yes, he said, while also acknowledging the quality Lille bring collectively.

They’re a good team in France. They’re having a great start to the season. They’ve been near the top of the table for quite a few years now, playing in European competition. We saw that last year in the Champions League; they weren’t bad at all. They were actually very impressive. Whether defensively or offensively, they have quality, young players, and a lot of rotation, the former Nantes defender added.

Hadjam stressed that Young Boys must approach the match with caution.

Frankly, they’re a great team… It’ll be a great match, he said, before dismissing any personal motivation linked to facing a French side. No, there’s no personal score to settle… Maybe FC Nantes hadn’t seen everything, and if I can show them what I was really capable of, that they missed something, I’ll do it with great pleasure.

The Algerian international also highlighted the positive impact of Young Boys’ new head coach, particularly in strengthening the team’s defensive structure.
There’s a new coach… We’re still learning his philosophy and little by little, we’re trying to translate it onto the pitch, he explained.

Tonight’s fixture will be one of Hadjam’s final appearances at Wankdorf before heading off for AFCON duty, with the defender also set to feature in Sunday’s Swiss Super League match against Lucerne.