Lens' Adrien Thomasson thriving in deeper role

There are some players that you look to simply get on the teamsheet, no matter where they play. For Lens, Adrien Thomasson certainly falls into that category.

A more advanced role under Sage's predecessors

Since making the move from Strasbourg back in January 2023, Thomasson has been an ever-present for Les Sang et Or. To date, he has made 102 appearances for Lens, netting 12 goals and registering 20 assists.

Those are some strong statistics for the midfielder, who earlier in his stint with the Ligue 1 McDonald's side, played in a more advanced position. Franck Haise was known for playing two No.10s, and Thomasson was so often one of them, whilst the Frenchman, who has played his entire career so far in France, was also deployed in a more advanced position by Will Still, now manager of Southampton.

Now, under Pierre Sage, Thomasson is playing in a deeper midfield role. It is a role that he is certainly enjoying and one that suits his abilities.

"I have found a position on the pitch that perfectly suits me. I really enjoy playing a bit deeper, making the link between the attack and the defence. So that is something that really suits my qualities," says Thomasson, who fulfils his duties all while wearing the captain's armband, a sign of the faith that Sage has in him, as well as the midfielder's importance to a side riding high in the table.

'I think it is a position that really suits me' - Thomasson

Thomasson also detailed why he prefers his new role. "It allows me to get on the ball more, to construct the game, but also to be able to go forward, to get into the box, but to come from further back," began the former Racing midfielder.

He added, "This quality of being more box-to-box corresponds with my physical capabilities, being able to repeat high-intensity runs, so I think it is a position that really suits me, and the most important thing is that I enjoy it more, even defensively, winning the ball back; it is something that I enjoy."

His relationship with Sage, who arrived over the summer, coupled with an increased focus on the mental side of the game, has helped the 31-year-old assert himself as a key member of this Lens team.

Thomasson leads Ligue 1 McDonald's assist charts

"I got on with the manager from the start. We know lots of the same people, managers with whom I worked in academies. I am working a lot on the mental side [of the game], even more so than in previous seasons," said Thomasson.

Thomasson’s goal crowns Lens’ win over Brest! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/NnjMphPGaq
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 29, 2025

However, in his deeper role, he is still having a positive impact in the final third, as his statistics show. No player in Ligue 1 McDonald's has more assists than Thomasson (4), whilst no player has completed more key passes (23).

"I am closer to the end of my career than the start," admits Thomasson, but he is proving that you can teach old dogs new tricks.

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