Will Still reflects on his time at Lens: 'I gave my best'

Ahead of the Ligue 1 opening day, which coincidentally features a return to the Bollaert-Delelis stadium, new Auxerre head coach Will Still spoke to the media about his memories from the 2024-2025 season spent in charge of Lens.

"It was a transition season, quite simply," Still explained. "At the start, I was told there would be quite a few player sales to balance the books, and that's what happened. We had anticipated some departures by bringing in Malang Sarr, but things didn't go exactly as planned. We ended up with a large squad that we managed to handle, achieving an interesting first half of the season despite our elimination in Europe."

I especially value the support of the fans during my difficult personal time. I have never hidden my admiration for this public and the club's structure. Will Still

The coach admitted that the January transfer window brought significant changes that made things difficult. However, he pointed to a strong finish, including a 4-0 home victory against Monaco on the final day, noting that the team finished with more points than in the previous season. "I know everything wasn't perfect, but the season wasn't as negative as it was sometimes made out to be," he stated.

Still concluded by saying he returns to Lens with peace of mind. He expressed regret only that he could not continue working with the new management team, but insisted his departure was a purely personal choice. He also reflected on his subsequent short stint at Southampton, acknowledging that his move to English football was perhaps too hasty.