Charlie Cresswell proved he is in the fight to avoid West Ham’s relegation after heated scenes in Toulouse’s 3-0 defeat to Lens.
The 23-year-old, who has long been interested in the Irons, has played more minutes than any other Ligue 1 player this season.
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The England U21 winner has featured in all 17 of Le Téfécé’s top-flight games this season, scoring three goals and an assist.
His form helped Toulouse move up to eighth place, just a point behind Strasbourg, before Liam Rosenior moved to take over as Chelsea manager.
Cresswell, who followed his English compatriot to West Ham in London, ironically had to achieve the same result as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men away to Wolves last weekend.
The defender had to pass one of his toughest tests of the season on Friday with the clear 3-0 defeat against Ligue 1 leaders Lens.
Toulouse, which was on a three-game winning streak across all competitions, suffered a 22nd-minute dismissal for striker Emerson.
Cresswell helped the hosts go into the half-time break without conceding a goal, but made himself a target by getting under the visitors’ skin.
Wesley Said broke the deadlock just before the hour mark and the Lens players then closed in on the Preston-born centre-back.
European football expert Andy Brassell said in an exclusive interview with The Pitch Prospect.com: “Cresswell has obviously been linked with a lot of potential moves to Premier League clubs. He’s done quite well for Toulouse this season.”
“It was a tough night for him on Friday night because they lost 3-0 at home to Lens.”
“In the second half, as Said scores for Lens, Florian Thauvin, who is enjoying a late summer in his career, walks past Charlie Cresswell, grimaces and sticks out his tongue.
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“And Cresswell is absolutely livid about it, gets pretty angry, gets a yellow card and Lens ends up winning 3-0.”
“It was interesting to hear Thauvin talk about it afterward. He’s a pretty divisive character anyway.”
“But he said afterwards that it was a planned move by Charlie Cresswell’s chain; it worked.”
“It was actually quite cynical. It wasn’t really a bit of agitation at the moment, which is often the case in football.”
“But it was a real, planned and cynically executed plan by Lens to get under Charlie Cresswell’s skin.
“It kind of proves that even though it’s unlikely they’ll make it and become champions, they have the swagger of league leaders.”
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The Lens players planned the taunt of Cresswell in advance
Adrien Thomasson explained what happened after the game: “Cresswell taunted us for almost the entire first half.
“We agreed at half-time that after we scored our first goal we should go and talk to him and Thauvin took care of that.
“He sacrificed himself for us, so to speak. I’m proud of him; he remained very calm despite the pressure and taunts from the Toulouse player.
“That’s what experience is all about: knowing when to tease and staying calm.”
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Cresswell, however, who was previously compared to Thiago Silva by Brassell, continues to be linked with a possible return to England.
The Leeds Academy product who was previously wanted by Liverpool and Manchester Unitedhas taken the step to join Toulouse in July 2024.