Lille's incredible XI of sold players features Hazard, Pepe & Digne

Last season, Lille achieved the seemingly impossible and pipped a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain team to the Ligue 1 title.

It was a historic achievement and while they’ve struggled in the French top-flight to a degree in 2021/22, Lille have at least enjoyed themselves in the Champions League.

Jocelyn Gourvennec’s team finished top of their group to setup a date with Chelsea in the last-16.

The Blues will be the overwhelming favourites to progress to the knockout stage, though, with no one really giving Lille much of a chance.

However, if the French outfit were able to field an XI of players they have sold in recent times on Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would certainly be nowhere near as confident.

And if you think that’s a lie, we advise you to check out the XI in full…

Maignan was a crucial to Lille’s famous Ligue 1 title win in 2020/21. He then joined AC Milan back in the summer and has continued to smash it out in Italy. The 26-year-old is comfortably one of the world’s best goalkeepers these days.

Since leaving Lille in 2016, Pavard’s career really has gone from strength to strength. The right-back is a regular starter for Germany’s biggest club and has 42 French senior appearances to his name, as well as a World Cup winner medal.

Before he picked up a serious knee injury back in December, Kjaer was playing the best football of his career at Milan after signing from Sevilla in 2020. Denmark’s heroic captain spent two years at Lille between 2013 and 2015, before joining Fenerbahce.

Gabriel has quietly evolved into one of the Premier League’s most formidable centre-backs since moving to England in the summer of 2020. The fact the Gunners paid Lille just £27 million for him is quite remarkable in the