More than twenty years after their last participation in the Champions League, the Lensois will rediscover the most prestigious of European cups next season.
Height of frustration for Lensois supporters: their stadium has so far hosted more Champions League matches from rival Lille (7) than from their own club (6). But this anomaly will be repaired next season, since the Lensois, victorious from Ajaccio on Saturday May 27, qualified directly for the next campaign for the prestigious European Cup, which they had not played in since 2002-2003. After several years of roller coaster between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, and with only the 10th budget of the elite, the Sang et Or have had an almost perfect season to once again offer themselves the flavor of the great European evenings.
“My secret dream is to bring Europe back to Bollaert”. By entrusting this ambition to La Voix du Nord in December 2019, when his club had stagnated in Ligue 2 for five seasons, Joseph Oughourlian, main shareholder and president of Racing Club de Lens, perhaps did not think that this dream would become so quickly. reality, and that Lens would return to Europe through the greatest of competitions.
“It’s brilliant, it validates everything that Franck Haise and his men have done well, exclaims Guillaume Warmuz, goalkeeper of the Artésiens during the club’s only two Champions League campaigns, in 1998-1999 and 2002-2003. Lens is a club with a history and specific supporters, which is recognized for that and for its beautiful game, but which must validate all of this by European titles or careers, to become a great club, which stabilizes at the top. “.
Covid-19 and a return to Ligue 1
The last European campaign of the Sang et Or dates back to the 2006-2007 season, and the round of 16 reached in the UEFA Cup, but since then, the Artésiens have experienced the lift between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, with three relegations in 2008, 2011 and 2015. And if they hoped to quickly rise in the elite after the last, the Sang et Or finally remained residents of the second division for five years, mingling regularly with the fight for promotion.
A rise which is denied for the first time to the Pas-de-Calais club, at the end of the 2018-2019 season. The RCL grabs fifth place in Ligue 2 and competes in the play-offs, successfully, until a last match against Dijon, a play-off from Ligue 1, lost 3-1. It’s only a postponement for the Lensois, who, second in Ligue 2 in March 2020, will take advantage of the end of the championships and the freezing of the rankings due to the health crisis, to be promoted. And this time, the elevator will remain on the Ligue 1 floor, since the Artésiens brilliantly ensure their maintenance and will even come very close to a return to the European Cup with a seventh place in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
“Bringing Lens back to the European Cup is a source of great pride”
To display such a level in the elite, with only the 10th budget of L1, the Lensois recruited cleverly. Facundo Medina, who arrived straight from the Argentine championship, Brice Samba, brilliant in the English second division, Przemysław Frankowski, from Chicago or even Loïs Openda, bought from Club Brugges, have come to strengthen the blood and gold squad. Already present in Ligue 2, Florian Sotoca, Jonathan Gradit, Massadio Haïdara and Steven Fortes are still present, as is their coach Frank Haise, who measures the progress made. “Three years ago, we were still in Ligue 2. There was work done. Everyone sees what is happening every ten days, but it is first of all work before the climb, with my predecessor and with lots of people who work. What is certain is that bringing Lens back to the European Cup is a great source of pride.”he said in early May.
Beyond intelligent recruitment and enticing play, RC Lens also relies on the presence of former players in its organization chart, such as Eric Sikora, post-training manager, Alaeddine Yahia, recruitment manager of the academy, or even Yohan Démont, coach of the U19s. “We need to have the memory of these former glories who had the best hours of the club to pass on and give confidence to young people. All the big European clubs rely on their former players, and Lens does it well too”observes Guillaume Warmuz.
Lens will likely feature in Pot 4 for the group stage draw and should expect to face three big teams, like in 2002-2003 when RCL were up against Bayern Munich, La Coruña and most importantly A. ‘AC Milan, future winner of the competition but beaten at Bollaert (2-1). From the memory of a former goalkeeper, Guillaume Warmuz would like to remind you: “With the strength that the public gives to the players, it’s always complicated for the opponent, whoever they are”.