def METHOD_NAME(self):
    logger.info("Start GitLab authentication")
    try:
        self._gl = gitlab.Gitlab(self._url, private_token=self._access_token)
        self._gl.auth()
    except gitlab.exceptions.GitlabAuthenticationError:
        self._gl = gitlab.Gitlab(self._url, oauth_token=self._access_token)
        self._gl.auth()
    logger.info("GitLab authentication succeeded")