Will Still reacts to 'boring as hell' Sky Sports tactical talk

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Apr 2025 17:17 BST
3 min read

Will Still, Sky Sports — © IMAGO/Sky Sports

RC Lens boss Will Still has spoken about his recent appearance on Sky Sports and hit back at the people who criticised him for his 'boring as hell' tactical talk.

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The 32-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past two years. Still, born in Belgium to English parents, is currently in his first season at RC Lens after making the switch from Ligue 1 rivals Stade Reims in the summer.

At Reims, the tactician had earned himself a sparkling reputation and become a popular figure on social media due to leading the side without having the necessary qualifications and for supposedly having learned his trade on the video game Football Manager.

Still is in the midst of a solid debut season at Lens, with the side currently eighth in the Ligue 1 standings. Earlier this week, the young tactician was invited onto Sky Sports' Monday Night Football and gave some interesting insight into his coaching.

The Lens boss provided an analysis of his side's basic principles and gave a look behind the scenes by showing the pre-match presentation that he had shown to his players ahead of a clash with his ex-club Reims earlier in the season.

Still wants to share his knowledge

The video of Still's tactical analysis subsequently went viral on social media, garnering more than 400,000 views on YouTube. However, some naysayers described his presentation as 'boring as hell,' which has now prompted a response from the man himself.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's match against Auxerre, Still explained the reasoning behind his Sky appearance, insisting that he relishes the chance to share his tactical knowledge.

"Last year, they said I was going to England, apparently this year too," Still quipped, referencing his links with Sunderland last summer. "It allowed me to work on my English and to speak tactically in English. I'm very open, I don't have too many tactical secrets... It also puts the club in the spotlight.

"If you want to see the sessions, come! On Sky, I went into some pretty basic detail, I stayed pretty general. The principles of play and the philosophy, everyone can observe them if they watch us over five, six matches. I didn't explain everything we did and the details that are specific to us, but I prefer to show, to explain.

"I open the doors. And if you can teach me something, I'm ready to listen. When I got my Pro License at Brentford, I learned tons in a week. And if I have that opportunity, I'd be stupid not to share, I think it's pretty cool.

"I prefer that people understand and see what we are trying to do and put in place, rather than saying that it is useless without asking questions. Among other things, that's why I do it, so that people can understand...

"I prefer to listen rather than stupidly criticise. We are in a world that works like that. I saw on Sky's social networks, 'he is boring as hell.' Then don't watch! But you know that you are not going to please everyone."

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