Thauvin prepares to return to UEFA Champions League: I will give my teammates calm and confidence

Florian Thauvin is set to return to the UEFA Champions League as RC Lens visit Slavia Prague on Thursday in the first round of the competition. The French club is participating in the continental tournament after a three-year absence, with a young squad that lacks European experience.

Sofiane Toufane, the captain of RC Lens, has stated that his experience will be important in the dressing room, given the lack of players who have previously played in the UEFA Champions League. The 33-year-old player mentioned that he has participated in 32 European matches, between the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, making him one of the most experienced members of the team in this type of competition.

The 2018 World Cup champion stated: "We have a young team that lacks significant experience in the UEFA Champions League. I am one of the older players, and I have played a fair number of European matches, whether in the Champions League or the UEFA Europa League. In such circumstances, I will have an important role with the younger players and my teammates in general, and I can provide them with calm and confidence, and that is what I will focus on."

Tufan's last participation in European competitions was in December 2020, when he had a tough campaign with Olympique Marseille in the UEFA Champions League that ended with five defeats and a single victory. The player admitted that his previous experience with the French club was not a good memory, but he believes that his maturity and experience over the past years will help him approach his return to the competition differently.

Tufan said: "At one point in my career, I wasn't sure I would return to play in the UEFA Champions League. I see this participation as a reward for the work I have done over the past few years, and I believe we all deserve to embark on this European adventure. I am approaching it with a great deal of maturity and calm, as I have gone through difficult experiences with Olympique Marseille in the Champions League, and I think I have become more mature, which will allow me to approach these matches differently."

RC Lens captain hopes to make up for lost time and seize the opportunity to return to the biggest European club competition, helping his young team to perform strongly in the UEFA Champions League.