Lens Manager Will Still Addresses M’Bala Nzola’s Attitude Issues

RC Lens striker M’Bala Nzola has been struggling to make an impact since the beginning of the year. The 28-year-old Fiorentina loanee has not scored since January, stalling at six goals for the season.

Manager Will Still recently revealed a heated conversation he had with Nzola following a disappointing substitute appearance against Le Havre AC in January. Still expressed his frustration, telling the player he would have preferred if Nzola had scored and then shown dissent, rather than displaying a poor attitude on the pitch.

Still emphasized the importance of putting the team first, stating, “The team needs Nzola to score goals, not his ego or negative energy. If he has frustrations, he should direct them at me, but the team must always come first.”

The situation appears to have worsened, with Nzola receiving a straight red card just 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute against Nantes in February. The striker was dismissed for throwing the ball at the referee, an action that reportedly led to the club cancelling part of his ethics bonus for the season.

These incidents highlight the ongoing tensions between Nzola and the club, raising questions about his future at Lens and the potential activation of his permanent transfer option.