Lens manager Franck Haise: “We would be stupid if we weren’t able to enjoy this moment.”

Whilst RC Lens are on a historically poor run of form in the league, manager Franck Haise has called for perspective as the club return to the Champions League on Wednesday night. 

Having challenged Paris Saint-Germain for the title last season, Lens are currently rock bottom of Ligue 1 with just one point, and they have already equalled the amount of defeats (4) as last season. It is Les Sang et Or’s worst-ever start to a Ligue 1 Uber Eats campaign and the lowest total of points accrued by a team that in the previous season finished second. It is a suboptimal context in which they kick off their Champions League, their first since the 2002/03 season. 

Ahead of Wednesday night’s game against Sevilla, Haise called for people to gain a bit of perspective and to savour the moment, despite the club’s difficulties in Ligue 1. “Three years ago, this club was in Ligue 2. So yes, we’ve had bad results since the start of the season and we are working to improve things, but we would be stupid if we weren’t able to enjoy this moment. I don’t want to be stupid,” said Haise in a press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe. The French manager added that whilst Lens are undoubtedly “outsiders,” his side will “fight with the values that they have always exuded.”  Lens also face Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven in what is a difficult group.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle