Crossword Genius

Where the French get sick at heart? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lille

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'heart?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'where the french get sick' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'sick' could be 'ill' (synonyms) and 'ill' is found within the answer.
'the french' could be 'le' ('the' in French) and 'le' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'at' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lille that I've seen before include "Eurostar stop" , "European city" , "Stop before Paris" , "Feeling unwell in the French town" , "City of N. France" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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